Trench mouth

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Definition Symptoms Causes Risk factors When to seek medical advice

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Definition

Trench mouth earned its name because of its prevalence among soldiers who were stuck in the trenches during World War I without the means to take care of their teeth properly. As a result, they often developed trench mouth, a severe form of gingivitis that causes painful, infected, bleeding gums and ulcerations.

Although trench mouth is rare today in developed nations, it still occurs, most often in people younger than age 35. Trench mouth occurs much more commonly in developing nations with poor nutrition and poor living conditions. Trench mouth is also known as Vincent's stomatitis and acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis (ANUG).

Without treatment, trench mouth continues to worsen, and it may lead to other conditions that can cause serious infection that can spread to other areas of your body. Fortunately, regular brushing and flossing, professional tooth cleaning and antibiotics can usually clear up the infection from trench mouth. And practicing good oral hygiene can help prevent future problems.

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Symptoms