Are Black Triangles Normal?
Gaps in your teeth can feel unsightly, embarrassing, and overwhelming. When you feel self conscious about your smile, you are less likely to do so–with drastic consequences. Smiling less has links to depression and self doubt, as strange as it sounds. You should know you are not alone. Gum disease, infection, gaps in teeth, and tooth loss are very common. The dental industry is a very old and thriving practice for this very reason; people always have problems with their teeth. Some things are out of your control, like the shape of your teeth. Some things you have a little more agency over, like your dental hygiene. Just know that with some time, effort, and professional guidance, you can make it through this and smile wide again.
What Causes Black Triangles?
Sometimes the black triangle is a result of a tooth adjustment, and not necessarily the fault of the patient. In this case, a dental intervention, like braces, exposed a gap that was not there before because a tooth was overlapped or grew in poorly. Black Triangles are more often the result of gum recession, which is linked to bacteria and poor dental hygiene. Without proper hygiene routines, bacteria accumulates on the surface of teeth, and breaks down organic food material. This bacteria enters the gumline and proliferates, creating a separation of tooth structure and gums. The gum tissue decays, pulling away from the tooth and shrinking, exposing a tapered root. The worst part is, it is self fulfilling, a tiny gaps becomes a larger one, leads to more, and leads to tooth loss. The earlier you notice the development of tooth gaps, the quicker you can take action and try to squash the problem.
Closing the Gap
How can you “fix” black triangles? There is no one solution, every patient is different with different root causes. The first step in any dental care plan is going to involve an assessment of hygiene. See your dental hygienist and get a really nice cleaning. You will feel great, and it will give your doctor a good starting place for examination. Your hygienist and dentist will be able to make recommendations based on where your dental hygiene is, and provide you with fresh equipment for caring of your teeth and gums.
Then you can move on to dental interventions to address the Black Triangles. Options will depend on your situation, history of infections, and your dentist. Some of the most common options include:
1. Tooth Shaping- The narrowed or tapered ends of your teeth can be filled in using a composite resin. This can be shaped by the steady and of your dentist and set. You want to ensure there is still space to floss, but not so much that there is a noticeable gap.
2. Invisalign or Braces- Teeth may need to be adjusted along the jawline, however this may expose a black triangle you did not notice before.
3. Teeth Replacement- Sometimes the root damage is deeper than a simple gap, and the tooth may need to be replaced. You will be able to select an option that looks nice, fills in the gap, and allows you to eat all your favorite foods.