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Health Library Home>Disease, Condition, & Injury Fact Sheets>Article

Acute Necrotizing Ulcerative Gingivitis

(ANUG; Trench Mouth; Vincents Stomatitis)

by Cynthia M. Johnson, MA
En Español (Spanish Version)
Definition
Causes
Risk Factors
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prevention

Definition

Acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis (ANUG) is a serious infection of the gums.

Causes

The exact cause is not known. It happens when there is excess bacteria in the mouth.

Risk Factors

This problem is more common in people who are 24 years of age and younger. The risk is higher in people who have excess bacteria in the mouth due to:

  • Lack of dental care
  • Poor dental hygiene
  • Poor diet
  • Vitamin deficiencies
  • Infections in the throat, teeth, or mouth
  • A weak immune system
  • Smoking
  • Stress

Symptoms

Problems may be:

  • Fever
  • Red and swollen gums
  • Gums that bleed easily
  • Gum pain
  • Bad taste in the mouth
  • Very bad breath
  • Gray buildup on the gums
  • Large sores or loss of gum in between teeth

Red and Swollen Gums
Gingivitis

Copyright © Nucleus Medical Media, Inc.

Diagnosis

The doctor will ask about your symptoms and health history. A dental exam will be done.

Images may be taken of your teeth and face. This can be done with x-rays.

Dental X-ray
Jaw x-ray teeth

Copyright © Nucleus Medical Media, Inc.

Treatment

Any underlying causes will need to be treated, such as improving nutrition and dental care.

The goals of treatment are to ease pain and stop the disease from getting worse. Options are:

  • Dental surgery to remove damaged tissue
  • Antibacterial mouthwash
  • Medicine to:
    • Ease pain
    • Treat infection

Prevention

The risk of this health problem may be lowered by:

  • Practicing good oral hygiene
  • Eating a healthful diet
  • Managing stress
RESOURCES:

American Academy of Periodontology
http://www.perio.org

Mouth Healthy—American Dental Association
http://www.mouthhealthy.org

CANADIAN RESOURCES:

Canadian Dental Association
http://www.cda-adc.ca

Dental Hygiene Canada
http://www.dentalhygienecanada.ca

REFERENCES:

Acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/acute-necrotizing-ulcerative-gingivitis. Accessed August 16, 2021.

Acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis. Merck Manual Professional Version website. Available at: https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/dental-disorders/periodontal-disorders/acute-necrotizing-ulcerative-gingivitis-anug. Accessed August 16, 2021.

Last reviewed July 2021 by EBSCO Medical Review Board James Cornell, MD  Last Updated: 8/16/2021

EBSCO Information Services is fully accredited by URAC. URAC is an independent, nonprofit health care accrediting organization dedicated to promoting health care quality through accreditation, certification and commendation.

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.

To send comments or feedback to our Editorial Team regarding the content please email us at healthlibrarysupport@ebsco.com. Our Health Library Support team will respond to your email request within 2 business days.

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4600 38th Street
P.O. Box 1800
Columbus, Nebraska 68602-1800
T: 402-564-7118
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