What Is Trench Mouth?

Trench mouth is a condition occurring in the mouth involving bacteria. It leads to a painful bacterial infection within the mouth. More specifically, it will cause swelling and ulcers in the gums. It can also cause inflammation to occur here. It is a type of gingivitis known to be more painful than the type of gingivitis most people experience.

The name of this condition comes from World War I. During that time, many army soldiers were inflicted with this condition, especially those soldiers “in the trenches.” Thus, the name stuck.

What Causes It?
The cause of trench mouth is bacteria. The human mouth contains some bacteria on a normal basis. The amount of bacteria present in the mouth is normally kept under control, especially when individuals have good dental hygiene practices in place. However, in some cases, the amount of normal bacteria in the mouth grows. When this happens, it causes the bacteria to attack the gums and the teeth. Plaque can build up easily. The gums become swollen and infected with the bacteria. This leads to the development of painful ulcers, or open sores, in the mouth, along the gum line. In some cases, viruses can lead to the development of too much bacteria in the mouth.

In a healthy person’s mouth, bacteria are a good thing. It helps to get rid of food particles that are hidden in the mouth and between the teeth that brushing does not get rid of. However, the immune system, oral hygiene and saliva all play a role in keeping the amount of bacteria in the mouth under control. When there is an occurrence of weakness in one of these areas, the bacteria can grow out of control. This leads to the development of gingivitis and eventually to trench mouth in some people.

If you believe you are suffering from trench mouth, it could be because of your lack of good dental hygiene. It could be due to a virus that compromised your immune system. You could be suffering from another dental condition, such as dry mouth, which leads to the development of too much bacteria. Anyone who has painful sores on their gums, or gingivitis that hurts, needs to seek dental help for the condition. In addition, begin improving your dental hygiene as soon as possible. A good product to use to make this happen is OraMD, which is an all natural solution that works effectively at removing bacteria from the mouth.