White Spots on Gums, Around, Pictures, Painful, Causes, Get Rid, Treatment & Home Remedies

Presence of white spots on gums is often an indication of a health problem. The spots usually appear either as small dots or as patches on the gums or along the gum line. Explore pictures, causes, signs and symptoms of white spots, dots or patches on gums. Also learn how to get rid of them with treatments and home remedies.

Signs and Symptoms

Healthy gums can appear as pink or dark depending on the amount of melanin pigment on the skin. White spots or patches on the gums are clear indications of having an oral problem. There are several signs and symptoms that are accompanied by white dots on gums.

Here include signs and symptoms of white spot on gums:

Red swollen gums with white dots or patches
Tender gums that can bleed easily after brushing your teeth
Bad mouth breath
Loosening of teeth on the gum tissue
White itchy ulcers or sores on gums
Difficult in chewing, talking and swallowing
Unpleasant taste in the mouth
White coating or film on surface of the gums

Causes of White Spots on Gums

White spots or patches on the gum are a common oral problem. There are various factors that can result to white dots on the gum tissue. Some of the causes of white marks on the gums include the following:

1. Oral thrush

Oral thrush is also known as candidiasis infection. This is a fungal or yeast infection that is characterized by white patches on gums, tongue, and throat. Infants, elders, and people who wear dentures are more susceptible to oral thrush.

The infection can cause serious mouth damage to an individual with a weakened body defense system. The risk factors that can encourage oral thrush on gums include the use of strong antibiotics, poor oral hygiene or any other underlying diseases in the body.

2. Leukoplakia gums

Leukoplakia is another oral condition that can cause white spots on gums. This condition can also affect other parts of the oral cavity to develop white coating. These white coating not only appears on gums but also can occur on the tongue, the roof of the mouth, inside cheeks, and on the throat.

This condition is caused by the overgrowth of cells in the oral cavity to form a white coating. The main cause of the overgrowth of cells is not clearly known but according to the dentist, leukoplakia is associated with smoking and chewing tobacco.

The infection of Leukoplakia in the mouth cavity can increase the risk for you to develop oral cancer. Leukoplakia in the mouth cavity may not be painful but it is advisable to go for medical treatment to reduce the risk of getting oral cancer.

3. Canker sore

Canker sores are painful small sallow or gray sores that can appear on gums, inside cheeks, inside of lips, on the tongue, and on the throat. Usually, these sores have yellow or whitish centers with a red base. Canker sores can form white ulceration of gums and on the other parts of the oral cavity.

The main factor that causes canker sore on gums are not clearly defined but the outbreak can occur in the oral cavity after they are triggered by risk factors. The common predisposing factors that can lead to the outbreak of canker sores include the following:

Trauma on the gums
Body stress and fatigue
Weakened immune system
Change of hormones in the body
Smoking and chewing of tobacco
Malnutrition

A canker sore can affect anybody although it is not a contagious infection. You can prevent the outbreak of canker sore on your gums by avoiding risk factors that encourage the outbreak of in canker sores.

4. Oral lichen planus

According to Mayo Clinic, oral lichen planus is chronic oral inflammation that can damage the mucous membrane. This infection is characterized by white spots or patches on the oral cavity. It can as well result in white spots on gums

Oral lichen planus can also show up symptoms of a red painful lesion, open sore and tenderness of gum tissue. It can also result in bleeding gums and difficulties in chewing, speaking, swallowing and brushing teeth.

The main cause of oral lichen planus is not clearly known. However, the condition is attributed to be an autoimmune disorder. The risk factors that can encourage the infection of oral lichen planus include the use of strong medication or presence of other underlying body condition that may weaken the immune system.

5. Oral cancer

White spots on gums might appear due to the consequence of oral cancer. This is a chronic mouth condition that can occur due to overgrowth of malignant cells in the mouth cavity. Oral cancer can affect gums, tongue, the roof of the mouth, and the throat.

Oral cancer can develop to due various reasons that include; human papillomavirus which is a sexually transmitted disease std or because of any other carcinogenic substances. The intake of heavy metal like lead into body system and harmful rays are an example of a carcinogenic substance that causes oral cancer.

6. Allergic reaction

Allergic reaction in the oral cavity can result in white spots or patches on gums, tongue and inside cheeks. Eating certain food that contains irritating chemicals such as raw tubers and too spicy food might stimulate the sensitive mucous membrane in the oral cavity to develop tiny bumps that can finally turn to white sores.

Harsh mouthwash that contains irritating chemical can also stimulate gum tissue to develop white sores or spots.

7. Injuries

Oral injuries or trauma can result in white spots on gums. Eating too hot or acidic food can burn mucous membrane that can turn to white marks. Dental work can as well cause gum injuries that might result to the development of white sores.

8. Gum diseases

Gum tissue can be affected by gum diseases. Usually, the infection of the gums disease affects the internal tissue which can as well result in damage to the external surface of the gum to develop white sores. There are two known gum diseases that include gingivitis and periodontitis.

Gingivitis is a gum disease that leads to red swollen gums that can bleed easily. It also causes open white sores that can appear on the external surface of the gums.

Periodontitis is the advance chronic stage of gingivitis infection that causes serious damage to the gum tissue. The condition is associated with a bacterial attack that causes intense itchy plaque on gums. Periodontitis can also result in white ulcers on the surface of the gums.

9. White gum Anemia

Anemia is a body condition that occurs due to the deficiency of red blood cells in the body. White patches or spots under the mucous membrane of the gum might be a sign of anemia.

10. Poor oral hygiene

Poor oral hygiene practices may cause the accumulation of tinny food debris on gums around the teeth. White coating on gums might occur when small particles of the food get attached on the external surface of the gums as white stuff or film.

White Spots on Gums Pictures

How do white spots on the gums look like? This post contains clear pictures to show you how white coating or patches on gums look like for more visual understanding. These pictures also show the external surface of the gum can be affected by white spots or patches.

White Gums around Teeth

The development of white gums around the teeth is not normal and it might be an indication of an oral problem. Healthy gum tissue is supposed to appear as pink or dark in color depending on melanin amount on the skin.

The sudden appearance of white gums around your teeth can make you worry a lot. The white patches or spots may appear on the external surface of the gum tissue. They might be a white coating or sores like ulcers.

Occasionally, white spots may appear under the mucous membrane of the gums. White gums anemia is a known oral condition that is associated with white marks on the gum tissue. However, other causes that we have already discussed can result to white spots on gum above a tooth.

White spots that appear between the gum tissue and the tooth might be a film of the accumulate food debris, bacteria, and fungi. Proper oral hygiene practice by brushing your teeth can minimize such white spots on gums above the tooth.

Painful White Spot on Gums

Why are my gums white and swollen? This is a common question that can come into your mind when you experience painful white spots on gums. Painful white dots or patches on gums can cause a discomfort in your mouth which can lead to difficulties in chewing, speaking and even swallowing.

Canker sore on gum is a known oral problem that can appear as a painful white gum blister. The outbreak of canker sores can affect gun line to develop white or gray bumps that finally develop into itchy white sores on the oral cavity.

Gingivitis and periodontitis are painful gum diseases that develop from bacterial infection. Other than causing white spots on gums, they can result to swollen gums that bleed easily. The two infections can also damage the root nerve of the teeth hence you can experience an intense toothache.

Oral cancer is another chronic mouth infection that can lead to painful white spots or patches on gums that won’t go away easily. If your gum has intense pain that you cannot withstand, it is advisable to go for medical treatment that can help to relieve the pain.

White Spot on Gums No Pain

Not all white spots on your gums are painful, some have no pain. White spots on your gums that are painless do not mean they are harmless. It is possible to develop painless malignant spots on your oral cavity including the gum.

There are various oral conditions that are associated with white patches or spots on gums which has no pain. For instance, Leukoplakia and oral thrush is the common oral condition that can result in painless white patches coating on gums.

In addition, poor oral hygiene may be the reason for having a painless white coating on gums and tongue. The accumulated tiny food particles, bacteria, and fungi can make a painless white stuff on gums.

White Spot on Gums Baby

White spots on baby gums may be a due to teething process. Usually, a normal baby is born without teeth on the gums. After about three months, your infant can start to develop teeth in jaw inside the gums. As the teeth continue to develop inside the gums, white spots can also show up on gums.

Epstein pearls on baby gums are also known as palatal cysts or gingival bumps. This is white pumps that can appear on gums of newborns. These bumps are harmless white spots on gums that can heal and disappear after few weeks.

Calcium deposit on baby gums can also result to white spots that that look like milk teeth. Baby gums white at the back might be as a consequence of calcium deposit on the jaw of infants. The deposit of calcium on baby gums can go away on its own without treatment and no need to worry about it.

If you notice a white spots, patches or bumps on your baby’s gum, stop any worry and seek the help your doctor.

How to Get Rid of White Spots on Gums

White spots or patches on gums can be removed using various methods depending on the type of oral condition. You can use home remedies to treat mild white spots on your gums that cannot develop into a serious health problem.

For serious whites spots on the gums that can advance into a complicated health problem, medical treatment is the best option you can go for. For instance, oral cancer cannot be treated by home remedies but it requires special medical treatment from a qualified doctor.

Treatment

There several medical treatment methods that your doctor can use to help you get rid of white dots or patches on the surface of the gums. After visiting your doctor, he/she will decide the appropriate diagnosis method to use that can help to remove white bumps, spots or patches on the gums.

Some of the methods that your doctor might use to treat your gums include:

Prescription of the oral drugs that include antibiotics, antivirus, and antifungal medicines
Surgical treatment to remove cancerous, hard cyst or bony structures that cause white spots or bumps on gums
Laser treatment that uses a beam of electron to kill malignant cell that leads to white spots or patches on the oral cavity

Home Remedies

You can use the following home remedies to remove white spots on gums:

Salt rinse

Salt rinse is the best home remedy that you can use to get rid of white spots and patches on gum. Salt has the ant-microbes property that can help to remove bacteria and fungi in the mouth cavity. It also has the ability to remove white stuff that can coat your gums.

How to use:

Mix two teaspoon of salt into one glass of warm water
Gargle the salt solution in your mouth for 5 minutes and spit out
Alternatively, place small amount of salt crystal on toothbrush and clean your mouth cavity
Repeat the treatment three times per day for few weeks until white spots or patches on gums go away

Baking soda

You can use baking soda to remove white coatings on your gums. The reagent has the ability to reduce bacteria and fungi in the mouth that can help to heal open sores on the gum tissue. It can also help to dissolve tiny food debris that is trapped on the surface of the gum tissue.

How to use:

Mix 1 teaspoon of baking soda with few drops of lemon juice to create a paste
Place the paste on your toothbrush and brush your gums or teeth in a gentle way
Finally, rinse your mouth with warm water
Repeat this procedure two times per day for few weeks until white stuff on you gums clear away

Hydrogen peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide can help to kill bacteria and fungi in the oral cavity that can help white sores on gum dry and heal fast. The reagent has the astringent property that can help to initiate open sores on gum to heal. It also has a soothing property that can relieve tender and inflamed gums.

How to use:

Get 10% hydrogen peroxide solution
Rinse your mouth cavity with solution of hydrogen peroxide
Repeat the treatment three times per day until white spots on gum go away

Honey and lemon juice

A mixture of honey and lemon juice is good home remedies that can help to remove white spots on gums. Raw honey has a medicinal property that can help to heal white ulcers on gums. Honey also has natural ingredients that can soothe painful tender gums. On the other hand, lemon juice has citric acid that contains antibacterial and antifungal property that can help to heal white coating on gums.

How to use:

Mix 2 teaspoon of raw honey into one glass of lemon juice
Swish the mixture in your mouth cavity for 5 minutes before spitting it out
Repeat the treatment three times per day

Tea tree oil

Tea tree oil contains a chemical compound called Terpinenol that has the antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal property that can help to heal white sores on gums.

How to use:

Apply tea tree oil on your gums by using a cotton swab
Apply it three times per day for few week until white mass on gums disappear

Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera has the antiseptic property that can help to remove white spots on gums. It also has active enzymes that can break and dissolve the accumulate food debris, bacteria, and fungi that coat the gums.

How to use:

Swish your mouth with one teaspoon of Aloe Vera juice or gel
Remove the gel out of the mouth by spitting it
Rinse your mouth with water
Do this treatment three times per day for few week until white spots or patches on gum goes away

When to See a Doctor

You can see a doctor over white spots on gums when you notice the following oral conditions:

When white spots or patches on gums have persisted for more than three weeks and has refused to go away
When white spots or patches on your gums are too painful and cause difficulties in chewing, speaking and swallowing
If white spots on gums accompanied other symptoms like loose teeth, tender gums, bad breath and swollen gums
If your baby develops strange white spots or bumps on the gums that are worrisome
If white spots or patches on gums are hard bumps that can bleed easily if something touches