Crested Gecko Jaw spots

Question
QUESTION: I have had a Crested Gecko for about 3 months now and yesterday while feeding him I noticed some black spots on his jawline/gums.  There does appear to be some minor swelling.  Do you know what this is?

ANSWER: Hi Scott,

I don't think I am quite clear on where the spots are exactly. Are they on the external part of the mouth, on the skin/scales or on the moist inside part of the mouth? Can you see them when the mouth is closed or only when it is open? Do the spots themselves appear raised?

My first suspicion was simply that you might have a young dalmation morph which naturally develop some black spotting on their head and body.

Here's a couple links which include photos of Dalmations

http://www.pangeareptile.com/morphs_colors.htm

http://www.geckotime.com/interview-with-matthew-parks-of-pangea-reptile-llc/

I can't say that I am familiar with any particular condition that would produce black spots inside the mouth. Mouth infections generally manifest as red, inflamed areas often with white pus deposits. You will frequently see excessive mucous production as well. The top and bottom jaw may look misaligned.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: The Dalmation Morph are pretty cool, but unfortunately this is not the problem.  The spot is now a streak, black in color and it run along the teeth or next to them.  Part of it is visible from the outside when the mouth is closed.  The skin around the streak on the outside of the jaw looks slightly swollen, or possibly just pushed out.  Toothless (the gecko) doesn't seem to notice the streak and shows no sign of favoring it when eating.

ANSWER: Hi Scott,

Lol, yes I thought the Dalmation explanation was too easy but sometimes applying the principle of Occam's Razor actually works!
Your follow-up description is starting to sound more like stomatitis (mouth rot). I'm still a bit mystified by the black colouration though. The only time I have seen dark areas in mouth rot has been the result of bleeding and scabbing which does not sound like what you are seeing at all.

This link has some photos of a leopard gecko with a fairly mild case of mouth rot, does this resemble what you are seeing in shape and position if not colour?

http://geckoforums.net/showthread.php?t=68822

Mild mouth rot can usually be treated at home quite successfully with cotton-tipped swabs and some diluted Betadine. Since Toothless is not being bothered by it yet, you might try just increasing the heat slightly first (within crested range) which can boost the immune system enough to help it resolve on its own.

If you decide it is a mouth infection and would like some more info on swabbing the area then feel free to post a follow up.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Toothless shed tonight and I got a really good look at the areas of effect while he was enjoying his own skin.  It almost looks like the areas that he initially chomps down on his meal worms, are the areas effected.  Is it possible that the teeth are being broken?  It doesn't resemble the mouth rot.

Answer
Hi Scott,

It sounds like this situation is causing us more distress then it is causing Toothless!

Ciliatus teeth are quite small and I'm sure there is bound to be some natural loss or breakage when chomping down on the exoskeleton of mealworms. I have never run into extensive tooth loss or any resulting discolouration as a reported problem, either personally with cresteds or through the literature. Come to think of it, teeth problems are cited quite rarely among reptiles, even those with calcium deficiency issues.

You have probably already done this but googling "calcium sacs" in regards to cresteds will give you numerous photos of the insides of their mouths for you to compare Toothless with.

You might also run your description (and a  photo if you can manage) past the Pangea forum http://www.pangeareptile.com/forums/index.php
to see if other owners have noticed something similar.