What is Trench Mouth? Does Anybody Really Get It Anymore?
Thanks to the many modern innovations in dental science, the strong education system that we have in place in the United States and in other first world countries today, and a rapidly advancing dental care system that encourages good oral health, trench mouth is a very uncommon occurrence for people who reside in the US.
According to the leading medical experts at the Mayo Clinic, they define trench mouth as, “A severe form of gingivitis that causes painful, infected, bleeding gums and ulcerations.” However, they are also careful to note in that same definition that trench mouth “is rare today in developed nations, it’s common in developing countries that have poor nutrition and poor living conditions.”
Where Did Trench Mouth Get It’s Name?
Sounds like a rather odd name for a disease of the mouth, particularly one that is really just a super advanced form of gum disease, which already has a name of its own. But if you break down, the first word in this disease, “trench,” it actually emanates from the First World War.
It was coined as such because during World War I the soldiers were fighting in trenches constantly and were not able to adequately care for their teeth, resulting in a very serious and severe form of gingivitis that caused many of them to loose teeth and suffer from bleeding gums, infected gums and even infected teeth.
Who Gets Trench Mouth
This disease is very rare in the United States and affects fewer than one percent of all people who live in this country. Still, if you are not taking proper care of your mouth and adhering to a strong and consistent daily oral hygiene regiment, you can be at risk of trench mouth. Most people, however, even if they are in decline on the strong side of oral health, still brush their teeth daily.
So much like other diseases, such as polio or small pox, trench mouth is virtually nonexistent in today’s first world society. However, in some Southern states and other very poor areas of the US, there are persons who do get diagnosed with trench mouth because they fail to even brush their teeth daily.
How to Prevent Trench Mouth and Gum Disease
You can easily prevent trench mouth and gum disease by following a simple oral health protocol that is consistent and on a daily basis. These following pointers can help you to enjoy good gum and oral health now and well into the future.
- Brush your teeth for at least two minutes at a time, two or three times per day and in between meals
- Floss your teeth at least one time daily, preferably twice and be thorough about it
- Use mouthwash to kill bacteria at least two times per day and in between meals
- Scrape or brush your tongue daily
- See your dentist every six months for a full oral checkup
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