Trench Mouth

Trench Mouth, acute infectious disorder of the mucous membranes of the mouth and throat, so called from its prevalence among World War I soldiers. It is characterized by painful ulcerations. Predisposing factors for infection include poor oral hygiene. The main causative organisms are the bacillus Fusiformis dentium and the spirillum Borrelia vincenti. Painful and bleeding gums are the chief symptoms, and they are usually accompanied by malodorous breath and an unpleasant taste in the mouth. Treatment consists of relieving the painful symptoms of the acute bacterial state and correcting local and systemic predisposing causes of the disease. Antibiotics are usually effective in controlling the infection.