Trench Mouth Needs To Be Treated
All illnesses need to be treated in some form or fashion once diagnosed. Oral mouth conditions such as trench mouth should be treated immediately once diagnosed. Early diagnosis improves the chances of a successful treatment for trench mouth and reduces the chances of complications in the long run.
Trench mouth is a problem that surfaced during World War I. During this time, oral care was not a priority for the soldiers nor was oral care readily available. Therefore, the soldiers who were fighting along the trenches suffered from gingivitis. As time progressed their gingivitis worsened to what is called trench mouth.
Trench mouth is a build up of bacteria within the mouth that grows out of control. Trench mouth causes pain, infected and bleeding gums, as well as ulcers on the gums. As the bacteria grows within the mouth, the infection worsens. Ultimately, the infection damages and destroys the delicate gum tissue that surrounds and supports the teeth. Also, as the gums are destroyed large ulcers begin to form on the gums. These ulcers are filled with bacteria, food particles, and decaying tissue. The ulcers produce severe pain, bad breath, and leave a foul taste in the mouth. If trench mouth is not treated, the infection may cause the loss of teeth, periodontitis, and or loss of tissue in the lips, cheeks, and jawbone.
Dental treatments not only take care of trench mouth symptoms, but they also help to treat other lingering oral health issues caused by bacteria. Successfully eliminating the bad bacteria within the mouth is the key to avoiding additional oral problems. Most dentists recommend that in order to kill the bacteria within the mouth, patients should take a prescribed antibiotic for seven to fourteen days. The patient should also eat a balanced diet that includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, and low-fat dairy foods. The patient should also avoid spicy foods and foods/liquids that are extremely hot as this will only irritate the damaged gum tissue. In addition, patients that chew or smoke tobacco should quit. Smoking and using tobacco products not only irritates the damaged gum tissue, but these two habits are also leading factors in the development of bacteria that causes trench mouth.