subject: How Common Is Trench Mouth Today? [print this page] With the importance placed on proper dental hygiene, trench mouth is now very rare in more developed nations. While third world countries still see trench mouth as a common occurrence, dentists Palatine based won't find very many cases locally. Originally, trench mouth derived its name from the World War II era when soldiers who spent long periods of time in the trenches fighting were very susceptible to the disease.
Over the years, trench mouth has been referred to in various combinations of names, such as Vincent's Stomatitis, NUG, an acronym for Necrotizing Ulcerative Gingivitis, or ANUG, an acronym for Acute Necrotizing Gingivitis.
Gingivitis can appear in many forms, and trench mouth is basically a more chronic form of gingivitis. Symptoms generally appear at first as a sharp pain in the gums, and will often be followed by swelling and redness as well. Be very careful brushing your teeth during this time, as the gums can bleed very easily with just the slightest bit of contact. Other symptoms can also be bad breath, and in some cases, a fever can develop. The symptoms can vary and will not always be present in different cases.
It's very important that when experiencing symptoms related to trench mouth that you immediately seek treatment from your dentist based Palatine. The symptoms could in fact be signs of a more serious ailment such as periodontal disease. If treated in time, your dentist can prevent more serious damage from occurring to the teeth and gums.
Trench mouth is in fact a disease that can be easily prevented. The most common contributing factor that can cause trench mouth is not maintaining an adequate home dental hygiene program. Regular brushing and flossing can easily prevent symptoms from appearing. Other external factors can also contribute to the development of trench mouth, such as smoking cigarettes or using chewing tobacco.
Many oral diseases can be prevented when using a recommended oral hygiene program. Once trench mouth is diagnosed, your dentist may have to prescribe additional antibiotics in order to reduce swelling and eliminate harmful bacteria; however an improved daily oral hygiene program will also contribute to the elimination of trench mouth. In very rare cases, surgery may also be an option, however it's important to consult with your dentist so that he can properly diagnose the condition, identify its source and embark upon a proper course of treatment to improve your overall oral condition and ensure long term oral health.
