Treating Trench Mouth Disease

Acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis (ANUG) or necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis (NUG) is a sub-classification of necrotizing periodontal disease, an infection of the gum tissue.This presents as an acute infection of the gingiva without involvement of the other tissues of the periodontium. If the infection has progressed deeper into the periodontal tissues, it is subclassified as “necrotizing ulcerative periodontitis” (NUP).

Causes of Trench Mouth Disease
A variety of micro-organisms, including fungi, viruses and bacteria, normally exist harmlessly in every human mouth. Their population is auto-regulated as they compete with each other. External factors that disturb the balance between the various micro-organisms of the mouth, may allow to some of the harmful bacteria to grow out of control. This overgrowth causes a painful infection of the gums, which can seriously damage or destroy the periodontal tissues that support the teeth (periodontal ligament and gums).

Several factors can increase the risk of developing trench mouth by disrupting the normal balance of bacteria in the mouth :

• Poor oral hygiene, that allows the build-up of dental plaque on the gums, usually contributes to the development of trench mouth.
• Mouth or tooth infections, such as an existing untreated gingivitis can easily progress into trench mouth disease.
• Poor nutrition reduces the ability of the body to fight the infection.
• Weakened immune system due to other conditions like AIDS or cancer, also favors the development of Acute Necrotizing Ulcerative Gingivitis.

Other factors contributing to ANUG include:

• Smoking or chewing tobacco.
• Emotional stress.
• Lack of sleep

Treatment
Treatment includes irrigation and debridement of necrotic areas (areas of dead and/or dying gum tissue), oral hygiene instruction and the uses of mouth rinses and pain medication. As these diseases are often associated with systemic medical issues, proper management of the systemic disorders is appropriate.