Interdental papilla facts for kids

The interdental papilla, also called the interdental gingiva, is a small part of your gums (gingiva). It fills the space between your teeth, just above where they touch. Think of it as a little triangle of gum that helps keep food from getting stuck between your teeth.

For your front teeth, the interdental papilla usually has a pointy, cone-like shape. For your back teeth, it's often a bit flatter. This special gum tissue is very important for keeping your mouth healthy and clean!

What Happens When a Papilla is Missing?

Sometimes, an interdental papilla might be missing. When this happens, you might see a small, dark, triangular gap between two teeth. Dentists often call this a 'black triangle'.

A missing papilla can sometimes be fixed with orthodontic treatment, like braces. Whether a papilla is there or not often depends on the distance between the bone supporting your teeth and where your teeth touch each other. If this distance is 5 millimeters (about the size of a pea) or less, you will almost always have a papilla. But if it's more than 8 millimeters, it's very likely the papilla will be missing.

How Gum Problems Affect the Papilla

If someone has active gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, their gums can become swollen. This swelling often affects the interdental papillae the most.

The papilla gets bigger because extra fluid builds up in the gum tissue. This happens as part of your body's natural response to fight off infection or inflammation in the gums. Taking good care of your gums helps keep your papillae healthy!