Trench mouth disease: causes and what you should do to prevent it

2011-04-19 / Blog, Dental Care, Health, Home / Comments OffComments

Trench mouth is a type of dental disease that appears in the gums. It is a form of gingivitis that is usually accompanied by painful and swollen gums due to decaying. Although the disease is rare these days, what must we do to prevent from catching it? Here’s a list of trench mouth disease causes and what you can do to prevent it.

Smoking has been one of the top causes of diseases in general, as well as dental health problems including trench mouth disease. Smoking for prolonged periods results in discoloration of the teeth, bad breath and poor immune system. Trench mouth is more common in individuals with low immune systems so avoid smoking if possible.

Stress and lack of sleep could also be trench mouth disease factors. Stress in small amounts can help you work under pressure but excessive amounts will have several detriments.  Chronic stress can disrupt almost every system in your body and can give you heart diseases, digestive problems, sleep problems and suppressed immune system – which again is a huge target for trench mouth infections. Manage your stress, relax and get enough sleep. This can not only free you of risks of getting trench mouth but will also improve your overall lifestyle.

A poor diet or lack of nutrition is a source of many diseases. For example, a diet consisting of mostly fat and little calcium could lead to serious dental and health problems. Maintaining a healthy diet not only gets rid of dental related risks but is essential for a healthy lifestyle as well. Consume a suitable amount of fruits, vegetables and ensure you have a good source of calcium.

Having poor oral hygiene is a bad way to get yourself a dental disease or two. Although eating the right food reduces the risks of getting dental problems, not brushing your teeth afterwards gives way for excess food debris to turn into plaque and eventually develop into tartar. These are layers of bacteria on the teeth and gums which are the top causes of dental related problems such as tooth decay and gingivitis. Always ensure your mouth is clean – brush your teeth after meals, floss regularly and pay your dentist a regular visit.

Trench mouth when left untreated could progress to other serious complications. It’s always never too late to start taking on a healthy dental routine and get rid of all risks of getting you dental diseases.

Read More

What Smoking Can Do to Dental Health

2011-04-13 / Blog, Dental Care, Health / Comments OffComments

Necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis (NUG), better known as trench mouth is a gum disease characterized by gum bleeding, painful ulcers, bad breath and a disgusting taste.  Poor nutrition and inadequate oral hygiene could bring about trench mouth.  Stress can also trigger this condition.  Smoking and using tobacco products could prompt trench mouth, as well.  Medical conditions that put the immune system in jeopardy can also lead to trench mouth.  Existing gum infections could develop in to NUG.  These are among the factors that can start off the ulcerative gingivitis.

But how can smoking cause trench mouth?  The nicotine in cigarettes and other tobacco products constricts the blood vessels in the mouth.  When blood supply in the gum tissue decreases, there is a strong probability of getting gum infection or do damage to the gums.  The bacteria brought by smoking and/or chewing tobacco oral cavity will eat on the delicate gum tissues.  Plaque is present in our mouth as it is one of the defense systems of the oral cavity to colonize bacteria so it is localized.  However if plaque is left to harden because of lack of proper oral hygiene, the germs will have the opportunity to grow more than the healthy level and using tobacco aggravates the progress.

Optimum dental health is important to ward off gum diseases.  However if you smoke chances of having perfect oral health is far from achievable.  Smoking makes the teeth discolored.  It makes the mouth reek of a ranking smell.  And smoking invites bacteria to proliferate in no time creating an environment for trench mouth to get the better of your oral cavity.  As trench mouth develops rapidly, it is advisable to see your dentist before more harm can be afflicted.

Proper oral hygiene is a good regimen to follow religiously.  Brush, floss and mouth rinse will get you a long way without getting any serious gum infections.  Regular visit to the dentist will let your doctor know your dental health.  Avoid skipping meals and eat a healthy and balance diet to avoid run in with any illnesses especially gum diseases.  Infuse exercise in your lifestyle as well for a fitter body.

Discipline yourself and have the determination to cut on tobacco products.  When smoking has been curtailed, eating habit may improve as you’d be able to taste your food more.  Stress level may also stabilize when you are not puffing a cigar.  There are many benefits when you quit smoking and among these is a trench mouth-free oral cavity.

Read More