Trench mouth

Alternative names:

acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis; stomatitis; Vincent's stomatitis

Definition:

A painful bacterial infection and ulceration of the gums (gingiva).

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Trench mouth (acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis or Vincent's infection) is a painful form of gingivitis (gum inflammation). The term "trench mouth" comes from World War I when the disorder was common among soldiers.

The mouth normally contains a balance of different microorganisms. Trench mouth occurs when there is an overabundance of normal mouth bacteria resulting in infection and inflammation of the gums, which develop painful ulcers. Viruses may be involved in allowing the bacteria to overgrow. Risks include poor oral hygiene, poor nutrition, throat, tooth or mouth infections, smoking, and emotional stress. The disorder is rare. It usually affects young adults between 15 and 35 years old.