Black triangles are, in fact, relatively common‚ although it can seem that only a few people have them․ It is normal to see some black triangles in your smile, and you may start to notice they are bigger as your gums and bones age․ However‚ they can be indicative of other issues in your mouth or overall health․
In a healthy mouth, the space between teeth is entirely filled with gum tissue. The papilla is the wedge-shaped portion of this tissue that fills the space between teeth, and it requires healthy gum tissue and underlying support from strong bone tissue. When gum tissue or bone recedes as you age, the loss of gum or bone may not allow for the papilla to fill the gap. The space left creates a black triangle․ This may not be a problem‚ but is a normal result of the changes that occur over time in the mouth․ Small changes in the volume of tissue may occur despite good care․
Along with the natural aging process‚ advanced gum disease may make the gaps appear wider as you age․ This is caused by the gum tissue and supporting bone receding from untreated, prolonged infection․ The tissue around the gums comes away from the teeth‚ creating space‚ which may have been previously filled in by gum tissue․ Recession can be associated with previously treated gum disease or even excess brushing force on the gum tissue․ Black triangles may indicate that the gum tissue may also be affected by disease․
Your tooth anatomy may also affect the likelihood of experiencing black triangles between teeth. If your teeth are naturally shaped more narrow near the gums and wider along the biting edge, then there will be space between your teeth along the gumline, even if the teeth are straight and touching each other along your bite. You will still have black triangles even though your gums are healthy․ Some people may be naturally more prone to developing black triangles due to their tooth alignment․ The size of a black triangle is determined by how the two teeth fit together․
Orthodontic treatment may increase the number of black triangles present even though your teeth may be straighter and your bite is in better alignment․ The contact point between two teeth may change during treatment‚ and if the gums are not able to adapt to these changes in tooth position‚ they may create a gap between the teeth․ While this can be unplanned‚ it is usually easy to manage with additional cosmetic or restorative work if necessary․
Black triangles, although common, should be reviewed in a dental exam, particularly as they offer a place for food particles and plaque to hide. Those spots can be more difficult to clean at home with traditional brushing compared to other spaces in the mouth‚ leaving you to floss or use interdental brushes every day․
If you have more questions about dental black triangles or how addressing them could help you achieve better dental health, make an appointment with the dentist to see your treatment options for black triangles.
Related Article: Cost to Fix Black Triangles?