Black triangles are the appearance of small, black, triangle-shaped spaces in between your teeth, close to the gumline. They can occur either naturally due to many factors or through the deterioration of your gum tissue by gum disease. In general, though they are common and “normal,” it is important to understand any underlying causes of them so that the right treatments can be applied and so that further issues can be prevented. Below, you will see some reasons that the black triangles can develop in your mouth.
Genetic conditions: The presence of black triangles can be caused by genetic conditions that affect the shape or position of your dentition.
Physiological condition: The black triangles is physiological in mixed dentition (adult and baby teeth in your mouth, from approximately 7-12 years of age). It is to be considered normal before the descent of the permanent upper canines. When the latter come out, they can push the other neighboring teeth and close the spaces.
Pathological condition: If there are various pathological conditions such as periodontology (once called "pyorrhoea"), cysts, tumors, tooth extractions.
Missing tooth: When teeth are missing (agenesis) the teeth tend to separate to fill the "gap". The most frequent cases concern the upper lateral incisor or the premolars.
Microdontia: This is the case of small teeth with a large jaw (dento-basal discrepancy). If the tooth/supporting bone ratio is very small, the teeth tend to separate due to the large space they have available in the mouth. If your teeth are naturally more triangularly shaped, this will cause the black triangles.
Gum disease
Dark triangles are usually caused by a loss of gum, and specifically that part of the gum called the interdental papilla. The gingiva recedes physiologically with age or pathologically due to periodontal disease. This exposes more of the bottom of your teeth, where they are narrower, and will cause the triangles. While this is “normal,” it still needs to be treated in order to prevent further tooth and gum deterioration which can lead to more sever gum disease and tooth loss.
How to solve the problem of space between the teeth?
Your dentist will have many options for you to fix these spaces, regardless of the cause. These solutions will depend on the underlying conditions that caused them in the first place. The black triangles can be fixed through reshaping of your teeth, closing the gaps with dental bonding material or veneers. It can also be solved through orthodontics or even surgery, depending on the severity of your case and exactly how it is manifesting in your mouth.
Whatever the cause and the treatment, it is very important to prevent future damage once the black triangles have been repaired with proper care for your teeth.
Regular brushing and flossing can help reduce the risk of gum disease which can cause the gumline to recede again (or for the first time), causing a recurrence of black triangles. If you are bothered by these spaces, please bring it up to your dentist and discuss all your solutions. These triangles are common and, in that way, normal, so don’t be embarrassed about talking about them with your dentist!