Trench mouth is a form of gum disease caused by severe gum infection. In most cases, the infected gum will swell and develop ulcers.
Trench mouth! You’ve probably never heard about this rare oral disease, but it ranks among the most severe dental conditions you can develop due to poor oral hygiene. This article explores what trench mouth is, its causes and symptoms, and today’s viable treatment methods.
Dr Thoms and his team are phenomenal. No question, the absolute best possible option for my child when he needed work done while sleeping (age based). While this option is not inexpensive, this set up of have anesthesiology in-house allowed us to get his mouth healthy when a traditional pediatric dentist could/would not. I am a parent that asks a lot of questions on behalf of my toddler’s care and at no point did I feel judged for this, nor was I rushed during my evaluation process during the consultation. Although the procedure is not one I would like to repeat for my child, my husband and I were both so pleased with how well Dr. Thoms communicated and how he clearly cared for our son’s wellbeing (both physical and emotional during a less than comfortable visit). Cannot recommend the back of house team more highly.
My one detraction is the FOH staff (not everyone) were not nearly as pleasant. I would like to communicate that while their day-to-day is very routine for them, being in that office as a parent is very scary for some people in their office and a little bit of kindness goes along way. I do recall, having a very pleasant conversation with Rebecca, but otherwise everyone else was on the apathetic side, in my personal opinion. That said you’ll notice that I still am leaving a five star review because the dental staff really just knocked out of the park, but as a parent I want to encourage you to look past any rudeness you may experience over email or on the phone because Dr. Thom’s is really that excellent.
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Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind words! We’re so glad you had a positive experience with our team. We truly appreciate your 5-star review!
The staff is always compassionate and explain all the steps of the procedure. This office has been a God send for me because otherwise I would have let my teeth fall into further disrepair. I highly recommend this office!!!!!
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Searching for a new dental clinic is challenging for someone who has
dental anxiety, fear, and traumatic experiences in a dental chair. The staff and doctors at the Dental Anesthesia Center were immediately very welcoming. Dr. Thoms put together a very detailed plan to repair and replace the previous work that I had in the past that was now causing problems. Putting my faith in him was the best thing that I could have done for my situation. I am more than completely satisfied with all of the extensive dental work that I’ve had with Dr.Thoms. I had my fourth sleep dentistry experience yesterday and I’m very happy with my results. I highly recommend this practice and truly want to give them more than five stars! Thank you for giving me back my health and confidence.
I adding to this post because of my visit today with the best dental hygienist Delaina and my exam with Dr. Biehl. I have truly never been to such a caring and supportive dental group. Everyone is always conscientious of my needs and knows that I have issues with anxiety. I am always calm when I am sitting in the chair because of their kindness. I am so pleased with the Dental anesthesia center. There needs to be more than five stars. Thank you, everyone.
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I am unusually tense about my appointments. However, from the moment I checked in I relaxed. The staff was welcoming and assuring, and helped me to relax completely. Dr. Hofmann is superb. He is by far the best dentist and dental surgeon I have ever ever experienced.
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What is Trench Mouth?
By definition, trench mouth is a form of gum disease caused by severe gum infection. In most cases, the infected gum will swell and develop ulcers, which lead to the death of your gum tissue.
Because trench mouth symptoms are almost similar to gingivitis, you may bleed more and experience intense pain when infected. Trench mouth primarily affects teens and young adults under 30 years of age, but its roots date back to the 4th century when it had names like:
Vincent stomatitis
Acute ulcerative gingivitis
Necrotizing gingivitis
People only referred to the disease as trench mouth after soldiers during World War 1 developed the condition from lack of access to proper dental care.
Causes of Trench Mouth
This condition usually occurs when there is too much bacteria in the mouth. Other risk factors include:
Trench mouth symptoms closely resemble those of gingivitis, but they’re more advanced. Therefore, you should capture all your signs early to get immediate treatment and prevent further dental complications.
The common signs of trench mouth you should be on the lookout for include:
Ulcers papillae on the small projections of gums between your teeth
Foul mouth taste
Fever
Fatigue
Red, swollen and bleeding gums
How Does a Dentist Diagnose Trench Mouth?
Besides checking for the above symptoms, a dentist will likely prod your gums to see how easily they bleed. In case they find an infection, the dentist may recommend extra tests to confirm whether the bacterial infection has extended to the bone beneath the gums. HIV and immunity tests are also common during trench mouth diagnosis because they encourage bacterial growth in the mouth.
How to Treat & Prevent Trench Mouth
Trench mouth has different treatment options available, depending on the extent of your infection. For starters, if the infection is minor, you’ll probably only need professional cleaning and some pain meds to cure the disease. But in cases where an infection extends to the bone beneath the gum, you may require surgery and strong antibiotics to shake off the gum infection.
From there, you’ll need long-term monitoring by your dentist to ensure a full recovery. During this period, the doctor will emphasize good oral hygiene to prevent future infections. These include:
Brushing your teeth twice a day
Flossing at least once a day
Eating a healthy diet
Avoiding smoking and tobacco products in general
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