The gums come in many natural colors, including red, pink, brown, and black. However, changes in gum color can indicate an underlying health problem. In this article, learn about what causes black ...

Black gums, or gingival pigmentation, are often a normal effect of having a darker skin tone that contains more melanin (the substance that gives skin its pigment, or color).

A sick dog's gum coloring could be blue, black, pale white, or bright red. Dog gums that aren't pink can indicate problems ranging from gum disease to congestive heart failure.

Pale gums around the teeth may indicate anemia, which is often caused by a lack of iron, folate, or vitamin B-12. ... The natural color of gums varies from person to person.