Are Black Triangles Normal
This term refers to a dark triangular space that appears between the front teeth near the gumline in some people. Sometimes these can be hard to see, and sometimes, they are quite apparent. Roughly one-third of the population has these triangles in some form, so if you notice them in your smile, you are definitely not alone! If you notice that you have these black triangles in between your teeth, be assured that they are quite normal. In general, they are more of an aesthetic worry for people than a health concern.
Black triangles can be due to the following causes:
* Tooth shape: The shape of the teeth is very important and plays a crucial role in the presence of black triangles. If your teeth are more uniformly rectangular, they will sit side-by-side nicely and will not create the black triangle spaces in between them. If teeth are narrower at the bottom and wider at the top, creating a more triangular shape, they will not sit flush together and will create the gaps.
* The shape and size of the interdental papilla: The other factor favoring the presence of black triangles is the shape and size of the interdental papilla. The papilla is the small part of your gums that kind of “hang” down in between your teeth. The younger we are, generally the fuller and healthier our gums are, so the triangles don’t tend to appear. As we get older, our gums start to lose the extra fleshiness of youth, begin to recede, and the triangles can appear.
* Teeth position: Properly aligned teeth have room for a bit of extra gum tissue between them, which helps keep the black triangles away. If your teeth are misaligned, there is no place for the gum tissue, which might cause the triangle spaces to appear.
* Orthodontic treatments: In the case of orthodontic treatments, the alignment of the teeth during treatment may reveal – temporarily or not – black triangles. This phenomenon can also appear following the correction of teeth that had rotations and were overlapped.
* Gingival recession: It is common in patients who have had periodontal treatments (gum problems) aimed at reducing infection and inflammation of the gums which can lead to a loss of the bone level supporting the teeth. The gum that is also attached to it sags, which creates an unsightly space visible at the neck of the affected teeth.
The problem of “black triangles” is mainly an aesthetic one and does not affect function, so the choice to correct this anomaly is optional and up to the patient. However, though they are completely normal, these black triangles can not only be annoyingly unsightly but are more difficult to clean and promote the accumulation of plaque and food debris. For this reason, we suggest speaking with your dentist about your options to fix this problem in order to maintain the best possible oral health and aesthetic smile. Your dentist will be able to recommend certain orthodontic solutions for the problem and also make sure that your teeth stay clean, which will help avoid the problems with plaque buildup in the spaces.