The name by which this disease is popularly known, Trench Mouth, derives from its incidence among war soldiers due to poor hygienic conditions during conflicts.

It takes the form of an acute and painful infection with bleeding gums, necrosis of the taste buds and deterioration of oral health. According to studies, it is now related to AIDS, as acquired immunodeficiency causes oral disease in 90% of cases.

What is necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis?

Necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis is a fairly serious oral disease that must be treated appropriately and in a timely manner to preserve oral tissues from much more serious damage and pathology.

Much more complicated than simple gingivitis, this disease attacks the periodontium, causing discomfort and pain in the soft tissues, as well as bleeding gums and acute halitosis. It predominantly affects individuals between 20 and 35 years of age, and is characterized by the formation of membranes that lead to ulceration of the gingival tissues and necrosis of the cells that compose them.

The treatment of the pathology consists of treatments aimed at disinfecting the gums and affected tissues, eliminating the infection and all bacterial deposits from the supragingival and subgingival margins .

Causes of necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis

Necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis is a painful inflammation of the gums caused by the action of certain bacteria.

The bacterial species Bacillus fusiformis and Borrelia vincentii are associated with the lesions presented here, although they are not the only ones.

Bacterial proliferation of necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis can be triggered by the following factors:

• Stress.
• Poor oral hygiene.
• Malnutrition.
• Weak immune system.

Necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis symptoms

The MSD manual reports that the infection usually begins suddenly, with pain and bleeding of the gums, as well as excessive salivation. Some of the most common clinical symptoms are as follows:

• Bad breath, evident by its unpleasant odor.
• Crater-like ulcers between the teeth.
• Fever.
• Unpleasant taste in the mouth, perceptible to the patient himself. Some describe it as a metallic taste.
• Grayish films on the gums, which appear red and bloody.

Because of all these symptoms, the patient will have difficulty performing common activities such as talking, eating and swallowing. The lymph nodes in the neck also often swell in response to the infection.

Possible complications

When there is difficulty eating and leading a normal life, some common complications are thinning, dehydration and tooth loss. If all these clinical signs are ignored, bacteria can enter the bloodstream, a condition known as bacteremia.

The spread of infection can be devastating. Multiple organs are affected and septic shock is promoted, in which the body reacts in an extreme manner and a drop in blood pressure occurs.

Treatment of necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis

The goals of treatment are to cure the infection and soothe the pain. This can be achieved by administering antibiotics, although the guidelines for necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis are as follows:

Professional cleaning: performed by the dentist slowly and thoroughly over several consecutive days. The disease usually responds very well to oral hygiene.

Oral rinses: the patient at home should perform periodic rinses with chlorhexidine, following the dentist's recommendations.

Good oral hygiene: During the first days, the patient is usually advised not to brush his teeth, due to the fragility of the oral apparatus. After rinsing and cleaning, it is necessary to brush the mouth for the rest of life to prevent recurrence.

Prevention of ulcerative necrotizing gingivitis

Prevention is based on a healthy diet, proper oral hygiene and visiting the dentist for regular check-ups. It is also advisable to do sports and stop smoking.

In addition, ulcerative gingivitis has an important psychological component, since in many cases it is related to stress. Therefore, it is sometimes necessary to seek help beyond the pharmacological field to treat this disorder.