What Does It Mean When Your Gums Are White

Unfortunately, gums can't be pink all the time. Every now and then, you can get canker sores or mouth ulcers, which are usually round or oval, white or pale, and have a red border (via 123 Dentist). They can appear anywhere inside your mouth, including on your gums. No one knows what causes them, but they are generally linked to eating a ton of citrus fruit or sugary food, as well as small cuts caused by braces, toothbrushes — or when you bite yourself accidentally. Canker sores make speaking, drinking, or eating a real pain, but these are not dangerous and generally resolve themselves in a week or so. 

If you see white streaks, you could be looking at oral thrush or a yeast infection, which shows up as creamy white sores on the gums, tongue, and on the inside of the cheeks. Babies, older people, and people who suffer from diabetes are at greater risk of developing oral thrush. Another cause of white streaks in the mouth area is oral lichen planus, which is an autoimmune disorder. If you suspect that you have either oral thrush or oral lichen planus, it is best to see a doctor, who can tell you if a course of medication is needed to bring your gums back into the pink of health (via Medical News Today).