Blue gums in an adult: causes and symptoms of what disease

Discoloration of gums is a fairly common problem with which patients often seek help from a dentist. The seriousness of this disease lies in the fact that the blue color of the gums can indicate not only some dental disease, but also the presence of severe somatic pathologies. Diagnosing the disease at an early stage and promptly starting treatment is the key to quickly getting rid of the disease without developing any complications.

Important information about diseases and factors that cause blue gums in adults

When blue gums near a tooth are discovered, or generalized (along the entire row) changes in the shade of the oral mucosa become noticeable, then there is no time for jokes. Many are beginning to wonder what this might be connected with. And we will tell you about the most common – dangerous and not very compelling reasons for this phenomenon.

The reasons for blue gums can be different.

Treatment methods

Depending on the cause of gum swelling and accompanying pathological processes, the doctor may prescribe conservative treatment, or resort to surgical manipulation or tooth extraction. The clinical picture is determined by the results of examination and radiography.

Conservative therapy

When visiting a dental clinic, a specialist eliminates the cause of gum swelling and then begins to eliminate inflammation, symptoms and associated pathological processes.

The patient may be prescribed drug therapy, including:

antiviral;
painkillers;
antibiotics;
antihistamines.

Local therapy that has an antiseptic effect is required. The dentist may recommend the use of special ointments or gels, rinsing the mouth with medications or herbal decoctions.

Surgery

The help of surgical dentistry is necessary for certain indications. The need for surgical intervention arises with the development of a purulent process. The specialist will need to open the gum, fistula or root canal to release the pathological fluid. Next, the affected cavity is cleaned, treated with an antiseptic, and treatment of the underlying disease begins. Swelling of the gums can be a sign of a serious pathology that requires tooth extraction. The need for extraction or the possibility of saving the tooth is assessed by the doctor.

Possible dental causes

Some dental patients notice that they have blue gums after tooth extraction. Indeed, this is not uncommon. Often the phenomenon is caused by traumatic effects on tissues, vessels and capillaries during surgical procedures. And such a symptom may not necessarily occur only after root removal, but also after procedures such as anesthesia, incisions, suturing, and gum retraction. Changes in mucosal swelling can often be seen after the following operations: gingivectomy, vestibuloplasty, osteoplastic procedures, implant installation.

Important! After surgery, blue gums in an adult are most often discovered due to too large-scale intervention or traumatic actions of the doctor. And also if the patient has a history of various chronic diseases, for example, hypertension, diabetes, or poor blood clotting. In this case, there is a high risk of hemorrhages in the tissue and the formation of various hematomas.

If there is blue gum near a tooth, this may be due to other dental factors:

poor-quality prosthetics: after installing structures that do not correspond to the anatomical characteristics of the patient, or are too “driven” under the gums, hematomas may form, since the tissues are compressed too much and cease to be properly supplied with blood,
the presence of crowns with a metal component in the mouth: materials based on alloys of base metals can, over time, interact with saliva and oxidize, leaving blue gum above or below the tooth. Blue gums can even appear from a metal-ceramic crown,

Gums may remain blue after whitening

teeth whitening carried out by an inexperienced dentist, cosmetologist, or, more often, by the patient himself (for example, at home, using inappropriate means and folk recipes). In the process, a doctor or home “experimenter” may leave soft tissues without proper protection, apply too much product and not remove the excess, overexpose the composition and thereby provoke a burn,
inflammatory periodontal diseases: gingivitis, periodontitis and periodontal disease,
purulent processes in the affected teeth, mucous membrane, bone tissue: for example, gumboil, enlarged cyst or granuloma, abscess, osteomyelitis,
the presence of removable dentures in the mouth: at the initial stage, they can put pressure on the mucous membranes, injure and irritate them, and impair blood circulation in the tissues. During operation, such problems arise in the absence of timely corrections and against the background of inevitable atrophy of the jaw bone,
complications after surgical interventions: for example, alveolitis after tooth extraction. This may also be inflammation of the tissue around the implant, indicating mucositis or peri-implantitis,
cervical caries.

“5 years after wearing a metal-ceramic bridge, my gums became blue, and they become exposed when I smile. It was very ugly. After that, she stopped opening her mouth wide at all. She hardly smiled. Complexed. And when the bridge cracked a few years later, the dentist suggested replacing it with zirconium dioxide so that there would be no blue discoloration. It cost me a lot more, but now everything looks very natural and doesn’t interfere with my smile.”
Marina Olegovna, review from the dental portal gidpozubam.ru

Blue gums after installation of metal-ceramic crowns

Norm and pathology

The tooth extraction procedure involves violating the integrity of the soft tissues and mucous membranes, muscles and ligaments that surround the diseased tooth and are responsible for reliably holding the root in the gum. That is why it is quite logical that after the operation a slight inflammation may begin, characteristic of the wound healing period.

Its main symptoms are: moderate pain when speaking and opening the mouth, discomfort when trying to chew even soft food, discomfort at rest and during movement. Bleeding may also occur, which usually stops several hours after the tooth extraction procedure.

At the site of the gum incision, sharp pain may appear, which radiates to the head and can cause the onset of a migraine. Also considered normal is slight swelling, redness or slight bluish discoloration of the soft tissue. Sometimes a person experiences an increase in body temperature, and the injured area may “burn.” These symptoms usually go away on their own a few days after the intervention.

What internal diseases may the symptom indicate?

If you have blue gums, then the reason for this phenomenon is pathological changes occurring in the body against the background of various systemic diseases. Thus, due to diseases of the blood, heart, and metabolic disorders, blood vessels become thinner and capillaries become fragile, and internal local bleeding occurs.

Doctors say that a similar symptom sometimes occurs against the background of iron deficiency conditions, that is, with anemia. For kidney disease and thyroid problems. And in diabetes mellitus, when the processes of nutrition and tissue regeneration are disrupted, even minor traumatic injury can lead to the formation of long-term non-healing hematomas.

Causes of blue gums around the implant after surgery

If we talk about the cyanosis of the gingival structures around the implanted tooth, then it appears under the following circumstances:

inflammation of the operated area due to the traumatic process of implanting a titanium rod, accompanied by pain, swelling of the cheek, discharge of ichor from under the suture, and bluish discoloration of surrounding structures;
transmission of an implant system made of metal alloys through the gums (relevant for anterior incisors).

In addition to the postoperative implantation period, pathology occurs in the following cases:

violation by a specialist of prosthetic technology (as a result, a reduction in the process of gum nutrition, lack of oxygen in the tissues, the appearance of cyanosis and swelling);
destructive changes in the mucous membrane;
gingivitis (a severe inflammatory process that has a negative effect on the condition of the gum area).

Causes of edema

Swelling of the gums is a consequence of penetration of pathogenic bacteria into the soft tissues, causing infection.

Provoking factors:

tartar formed due to poor oral hygiene;
advanced form of caries;
untreated stomatitis;
infectious diseases of the throat;
mechanical damage to soft tissues;
difficult teething;
immunodeficiency;
vitamin deficiency (mostly severe lack of vitamin C);
herpes virus activity;
allergies to dental drugs or materials;
development of purulent processes inside the tooth;
the presence of tumors on the tooth root;
gum diseases.

Before making a diagnosis, the dentist will definitely prescribe diagnostics to determine the internal state of the tissues, which will more clearly define the clinical picture and identify the main cause of the pathology.

Possible associated symptoms

Typically, blue gum above or below a tooth is not the only symptom that something is wrong. Typically, people with a similar problem note other warning signs:

mucous membranes swell and begin to bleed, may move away from the necks of the teeth,
itching and soreness in the gums occurs: the discomfort intensifies with pressure, any mechanical impact, while eating food,
a nearby tooth hurts, it can also become mobile,
body temperature rises,
there is a strong foul odor coming from under the gums, pus may be released,
Plaque intensively accumulates on the necks of teeth.

Symptoms

Changes in gum color are usually accompanied by the following complaints:

pain when brushing teeth and chewing food;
itching;
swelling of the mucous membrane;
periodontal bleeding;
accumulation of abundant plaque on the teeth;
formation of tartar.

Symptoms depend on the cause of the disease and on the individual characteristics of the body. Eliminating the cause of gum discoloration is the first thing to start treatment with.

When does it make sense to go to the doctor?

Of course, in any unclear situation this will be the best solution. However, many people prefer to wait a few days, observe the condition of their blue gums and evaluate their overall health. And this is not prohibited if you do not have a rapid increase in body temperature and positive dynamics are observed.

In what cases should you urgently consult a doctor?

In cases where blue gums persist for longer than 3-5 days, with severe pain, high fever, loss of appetite, a change from a local process (when the gums turn blue in the area of 1 tooth) to a generalized one (the pathology spreads to neighboring elements of the row, increases in size, grows ) you should consult a doctor as soon as possible.

Prevention of complications after treatment

Regardless of the color of the gums, every person when caring for them must adhere to the following rules:

brush your teeth every day after breakfast and before bed;
the brush should be directed from top to bottom on the upper jaw and from bottom to top on the lower jaw;
the procedure should be completed with circular movements from the molars to the anteriors;
horizontal movements of the brush can injure the mucous membrane, as can very hard bristles.

Following these recommendations will help keep your gums healthy under any circumstances.

What can dentists offer in the fight against gum pathologies?

When a person discovers blue gums, he probably asks the question: what to do? The first step is to see a dentist. The doctor will examine your mouth and identify possible problems.

If the cause is poor-quality or incorrectly installed crowns or dentures, they will need to be adjusted or replaced. In case of dental diseases and detection of purulent processes against this background, it may be necessary to open, drainage and antiseptic treatment of tumors, clean the root canals, apply medicated pads and install a sealed filling at the end.

In case of periodontal inflammation, a specialist will definitely prescribe comprehensive treatment[1]. It is aimed at eliminating symptoms, restoring gum tissue and preserving teeth, which, in advanced stages of periodontitis and periodontal disease, can become loose and fall out. What procedures will be required: professional oral hygiene to remove bacterial plaque, anti-inflammatory and restorative therapy for gums in the form of rinses, lotions, antibiotic therapy. Some patients are also prescribed plasma lifting and periodontal gels with growth factors.

Expert opinion
Marina Igorevna Tarabanovskaya
Specializations: Dentist-therapist, periodontist

Experience: 9+

“In case of periodontal diseases, it is important not only to undergo treatment, but also to adjust the lifestyle that the patient usually leads. It is necessary to follow a certain diet, stop smoking, and purchase a suitable brush, toothpaste and mouthwash for daily hygiene. And be sure to undergo professional hygiene and examination by a dentist at least twice a year. Otherwise, the pathology will constantly worsen, and the patient risks losing all his natural teeth ahead of time.”

What to do if the fabrics turn blue

Beforehand, if blueness of the mucous membrane in the mouth appears, you should consult a specialist. There may be a serious pathology at work. The doctor will conduct the necessary examination and prescribe the correct treatment. Self-diagnosis, and even more so self-medication, can cause harm and complicate the situation.

If the reason for the change in shade is poor-quality prosthetics on implants, then correction of the system, the method of fixing it on the gum, or a complete replacement of the structure will be necessary. Probably, to quickly restore the natural appearance of the tissues, the use of a special ointment will be prescribed. The doctor will also tell you how to care for the prosthesis.

Blueness of the gingival area due to the inflammatory process is treated conservatively. Typically, a medication course includes:

taking an antibiotic;
undergoing physiotherapeutic procedures;
massage.

Blue discoloration caused by the installation of a dental implant on the first or second day after surgery is considered normal. It is mostly associated with the traumatic nature of the process. The recovery period takes place under conditions of regular antiseptic treatment of the oral cavity, so the symptom goes away after a little time. As for the change in shade due to the titanium rod shining through the mucous membrane, the situation cannot be corrected. This can be avoided in the future by selecting implants made of zirconium. Its shade is more natural.

Opinion of an implant surgeon : “Over many years of practice as an implantologist, I have seen many cases of gingival tissue turning blue after the procedure for introducing titanium structures. At the first stage, this is a normal phenomenon associated with a violation of the integrity of the jaw structures. Usually after a few days the color is restored due to the normalization of blood circulation. You shouldn’t worry too much about this, just follow the recommendations given by a specialist.”

Sometimes the pathology may not be related to dental aspects . Then the doctor conducts an examination to find out its causes. For this purpose, specialists from other fields are involved.