ANUG (Acute Necrotizing Ulcerative Gingivitis)

ANUG (Acute Necrotizing Ulcerative Gingivitis)

ANUG is an acronym for Acute Necrotizing Ulcerative Gingivitis more commonly known as trench mouth due to the disorder being common among soldiers during World War 1 or Vincent’s disease after the French physician Henri Vincent (1862-1950).

ANUG also goes by many other names including acute membranous gingivitis fusospirillary gingivitis fusospirillosis fusospirochetal gingivitis necrotizing gingivitis phagedenic gingivitis ulcerative gingivitis Vincent’s gingivitis Vincent’s infection and Vincent’s stomatitis.

ANUG is often brought on by stress and/or smoking and is a progressive painful infection with ulceration swelling and sloughing off of dead tissue from the mouth and throat due to the spread of infection from the gums. Other causes of this disease include poor oral hygiene poor nutrition and throat tooth or mouth infections. ANUG is a rare condition which typically affects people between the ages of 15 and 35.

The mouth normally contains a balance of different microorganisms. ANUG occurs when there is an overabundance of normal mouth bacteria resulting in infection of the gums. Viruses can also be involved in allowing the bacteria to overgrow. Poisons released by these bacteria irritate the gums causing further infection. If untreated the infection creates ulcers leading to destruction of tissues or trenches that undermine the support of the teeth and eventually cause the loss of teeth.

Good oral hygiene is important to prevent trench mouth including thorough tooth brushing and flossing and regular professional dental cleaning and examination. Good nutrition and good general health also help to prevent the disorder. Other preventive measures include stopping smoking and learning of ways to deal with stress.

Special appliances or tools may be recommended to supplement tooth brushing and flossing. These include special toothpicks toothbrushes water irrigation or other devices. Fluoride-containing or anti-plaque (tartar control) toothpastes or mouth rinses may be recommended by the dentist or oral hygienist.

Symptoms of ANUG are very easy to spot and include painful gums gum bleeding in response to any pressure or irritation reddened gums swollen grayish film on the gums crater-like ulcers foul taste in the mouth and bad breath. Treating ANUG requires professional help in the form of antibiotics and sometimes dental surgery. Professional cleaning of the gums is also necessary as is Irrigation of the mouth with salt water or peroxide solution which often helps to relieve symptoms. Rest a balanced diet with avoidance of smoking or eating hot and spicy food is also important.