How to Treat White Gums: Your Top Questions Answered

Co-authored by Lewis Chen, DDS, FICOI, FIADFE and Janice Tieperman

Last Updated: July 18, 2022 References

Have you noticed a white patch on your gums, or do your gums just look a little paler than normal? Don’t panic. White gums can mean a lot of different things and aren’t necessarily a sign of something serious. While it’s always best to consult a dentist or doctor, we’ve answered some of your frequently asked questions to help give you all the facts.

Question 1 of 12:

What color should healthy gums be?

Your gums should be pink. Healthy gums feel very firm, and hold your teeth in place without receding. If your gums look pale or have white patches, take a closer look so you can get any potential issues diagnosed, treated, and resolved.^{[1]
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National Health Service (UK)
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Question 2 of 12:

What do white gums mean?

Oral candidiasis might be the cause. Also known as oral thrush, this fungal infection creates white spots along the inside of your mouth, including your gums, inner cheeks, tongue, and tonsils. Oral thrush is most common in older adults, babies, and immunocompromised people.^{[2]
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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- Oral thrush can also spread to the roof of your mouth or your throat.

Question 3 of 12:

How do I treat oral candidiasis?

Ask a doctor or dentist for a prescription. Once a medical professional confirms that you have oral thrush, you’ll receive some type of antifungal medication, like a lozenge, liquid, or candy. Take this medication for as long as your doctor suggests, so the infection clears up.^{[3]
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Trustworthy Source
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services
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- If you’re currently nursing a baby with oral thrush, your child might give the infection to you. A low dose of antifungal medicine for your baby and an antifungal cream for your skin should clear this up.

Question 4 of 12:

What are some other causes of white gums?

You might have leukoplakia. Leukoplakia is caused by extra cell growth in your mouth, which creates distinct, whitish patches along your gums, tongue, or insides of your cheeks. This condition is pretty common if you use tobacco products, or if you wear dentures that don’t fit correctly.^{[4]
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Research source} Long-term drinking can also lead to leukoplakia.^{[5]
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Cleveland Clinic
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- Always ask a dentist to check out the white patch before self-diagnosing. If your dentist thinks the leukoplakia is serious, they might suggest getting a biopsy.

Question 5 of 12:

What should I do if I have leukoplakia?

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Try making some lifestyle changes. Tobacco and alcohol are 2 big causes of leukoplakia. If you cut back on these habits, your leukoplakia will probably go away on its own.^{[6]
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National Health Service (UK)
Public healthcare system of the UK
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Ask your doctor if you should be tested for oral cancer. Your doctor might take a biopsy of your leukoplakia to test for cancer. If the patch is small, your doctor might remove all the leukoplakia with the biopsy. However, if you’re dealing with a large patch, your doctor might refer you to an ear, nose, and throat specialist.^{[7]
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Cleveland Clinic
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Question 6 of 12:

Why do my gums look so pale?

Anemia can make your gums pale. When you have anemia, your body isn’t creating enough healthy red blood cells to carry oxygen to the rest of your body.^{[8]
X
Trustworthy Source
Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source} When your gums don’t get enough oxygen, they might look pale or white.^{[9]
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American Cancer Society
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- If you’re anemic, you may notice other symptoms, like tiredness, pale skin, swollen feet and hands, shortness of breath, dizzy spells, and more.

Question 7 of 12:

How do I recover from anemia?

Create a treatment plan with your doctor. Anemia can be caused by a lot of different deficiencies—to make a more accurate treatment plan, get a blood test. Your doctor can let you know what nutrients you need more of, like iron, vitamin B12, or folate. As you adjust your diet, you might notice your pale gums going away.^{[10]
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American Cancer Society
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- You might take certain supplements to make up for your nutrient deficiency, or your doctor might recommend a transfusion.

Question 8 of 12:

Can white gums be a sign of cancer?

Yes, they can be. White patches in your mouth, along with other symptoms, like mouth pain, issues swallowing, unexplained lumps, loose teeth, and sores that don’t heal, can be a red flag for oral cancer. If you notice any of these warning signs, don’t self-diagnose; instead, visit your doctor or dentist to get their professional opinion.^{[11]
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Trustworthy Source
Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
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Question 9 of 12:

How do I know if I have oral cancer?

Ask your doctor to take a look at your gums. There are a lot of different symptoms connected with oral cancer, like white patches inside your mouth, loose teeth, persistent sores, and difficulty swallowing. It can be really scary if you notice any of these; however, try not to jump to any conclusions. Instead, schedule an appointment with your doctor so you can get their professional opinion. Then, you can go from there.^{[12]
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Trustworthy Source
Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source}

Question 10 of 12:

What if I have white painful spots on my gums?

It might be a canker sore. These sores are small and pop up around the inside of your mouth. Typically, canker sores look white or gray and are red around the outer border. Experts aren’t completely sure what causes them, but these sores aren’t a serious medical concern.^{[13]
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Research source}

Question 11 of 12:

How do I treat a canker sore?

These sores heal on their own, but over-the-counter treatments can help. Your sore should go away naturally within 1-2 weeks, but you may experience some pain or discomfort in the meantime. Treat the sore with a topical, over-the-counter numbing cream, or rinse out your mouth with an antimicrobial mouthwash.^{[14]
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Research source}
- Don’t eat any spicy, acidic, or hot foods while your sore heals—these can make the pain and discomfort a lot worse.

Question 12 of 12:

Can white gums go away?

They definitely can, as long as you know what’s causing them. A wide variety of conditions can lead to white gums—some serious, some completely mild. First, pinpoint the cause of your white gums with a dentist or doctor. Then, you can develop an effective treatment plan.

Expert Q&A

Question

Why did my gums turn white after doing a teeth whitening procedure?

Lewis Chen, DDS, FICOI, FIADFE
Licensed Dentist
Dr. Lewis Chen is a licensed Dentist in both New York and New Jersey, specializing in providing high-quality oral care in the form of preventative care. He holds an Economics degree from New York University. Dr. Chen earned his doctorate at Columbia University College of Dental Medicine. He graduated top of his class with the highest honors and distinction and was nominated and inducted into the only renowned, national dental honor society, Omicron Kappa Upsilon (OKU). He then completed a comprehensive training program at the Bronx VA Medical Center and, shortly after, decided to pursue multiple practice ownership and management. Dr. Chen has acquired numerous accolades over the years, including New York Academy of Dentistry Exemplary Professional Conduct Award, Academy of General Dentistry Outstanding General Practitioner Award, American Academy of Implant Dentistry Award, and Pierre Fauchard Foundation Award.

Lewis Chen, DDS, FICOI, FIADFE

Licensed Dentist

Expert Answer

This is typically a sign that you didn't apply the teeth whitening strips correctly. If you don't line them up properly and they end up sitting on your gums, your gums will temporarily turn white for a period of time.