Everyone strives for a picture-perfect smile. From teeth whitening to cosmetic dentistry, people explore the available options to enhance their smile and make their teeth healthy. Some people notice a black triangle between their teeth and might become concerned about their smiles. However, it is not just a cosmetic issue, as these gaps might indicate some health conditions. Carry on reading to know what they are.
What Causes Black Triangle Teeth?
Known as open gingival embrasures, black triangles are common among people above the age of 20. Here are some factors responsible for the gaps forming between your teeth:
1. Receding Gums
Factors like gum disease, smoking, and age can cause your gums to pull away from the teeth. The healthy pink tissue between the teeth leaves behind a gap when it pulls back, exposing the roots. Receding gums leaves tooth roots vulnerable to bacteria, plaque, and cavities.
2. Dental Bone Loss
You might be experiencing tooth-bone loss due to gum disease, osteoporosis, or other conditions. The loss starts at the base of your tooth, as your gums resorption also occurs. Hence, black triangles might form as a result of bone loss in your teeth.
3. Dental Hygiene
Your gum tissue is sensitive, and brushing your teeth aggressively can damage it over time. Therefore, you should try a gentle technique while brushing your teeth. Moreover, interdental brushes can also cause a black triangle to form if it is too big for the space.
4. Orthodontic Treatment
Orthodontic care might develop gaps as your teeth shift their positions. Furthermore, parts of the appliance, like an orthodontic band, can damage the gums too. Thus, braces to straighten your teeth might form black triangles between your teeth.
5. Tooth Shape
Your tooth shape might be responsible for the gaps forming between your teeth. If you have rectangular teeth, the width wouldn’t be much different at the gum line and biting point. However, some people have triangular teeth with a narrower gap at the gum line. This gives the teeth their triangular shape, which is why they’re likely to form gaps.
6. Thin Gum Tissue
The thickness of gums will be different in each person. So if you have thin gum tissue, it might be less resilient. Therefore, thin gums might not fully restore themselves to their previous form after dental work like periodontal surgery.
How to Fix Black Triangle Teeth?
Black triangle teeth are not exactly normal, so you might need one of the following treatments to fix them:
• Brushing or flossing gently.
• Hyaluronic acid injections to regenerate gum tissue.
• Composite resin to flesh out the gaps between teeth.
• Braces to close the gaps by moving the teeth closer.
• Veneers to even out the smile by filling the black triangles.
• Gum grafting
What Should I Do?
Black triangle teeth can indicate underlying dental problems, so it is best to consult your dentist when you notice them. They can offer many options to treat it, depending on your condition. Our Lake Elsinore Dentistry specialists are always available for you. Dial 951-579-1010 to schedule an appointment with us today!