trench mouth

Severe and often recurring infection of the teeth and surrounding tissues. It is due to inadequate cleaning of the teeth, which allows plaque and bacteria to build up and invade the gums and bones supporting them. Repeated infections in the bone leads to permanent holes, ultimately resulting in the teeth loosening and falling out, and painful abscesses developing.

Trench mouth
Classifications and external resources

ICD-10	A69.1
ICD-9	101

Trench mouth is a polymicrobial infection of the gums leading to inflammation, bleeding, deep ulceration and necrotic gum tissue;

The common name was probably coined during World War I when many soldiers suffered from the condition.

The condition is caused by an overpopulation of established mouth bacteria due to a number of interacting factors such as poor hygiene, poor diet, smoking, other infections and stress.

Untreated, the infection may lead to rapid destruction of the periodontium and can spread, as necrotizing stomatitis, into neighbouring tissues in the cheeks, lips or the bones of the jaw.