Acute Necrotizing Ulcerative Gingivitis
En Español (Spanish Version)Acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis (ANUG) is a serious infection of the gums that causes ulcers, swelling, and dead tissues in the mouth. Although a very painful condition, it can be healed with treatment.
Acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis is typically caused by excess bacteria in the mouth. Too much bacteria can form in the mouth from
smoking
, stress, lack of dental care, a virus, and poor diet.
A risk factor is something that increases your chance of getting a disease or condition. Risk factors for ANUG include:
- Lack of dental care and overall poor dental hygiene
- Poor diet
- Vitamin deficiencies
- Infections in the throat, teeth, or mouth
- Compromised immune system
- Smoking
- Stress
- Age: 35 years or younger
If you experience any of these symptoms, do not assume it is due to acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis. These symptoms may be caused by other health conditions. If you experience any one of them, see your dentist.
- Pain in the gums
- Gums that bleed easily
- Bad taste in mouth, extremely bad breath
- Red and swollen gums
- Gray residue on the gums
- Large ulcers or loss of gum tissue in between teeth
- Fever
- Swollen lymph nodes
Red and Swollen Gums
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Your dentist will ask about your symptoms and medical history, and perform a dental exam. The dental exam will look for:
- Inflammation of the gums
- Destroyed gum tissue
- Crater-like ulcers in the gums that may harbor plaque and debris from food
-
Dental
x-rays
- Facial x-rays
Dental X-ray
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Talk with your dentist about the best treatment plan for you. Treatment options include the following:
- Antibiotics to clear up the infection
- Dental surgery
- Improved diet
- Regular dental cleanings
- Changes in diet
To help reduce your chances of getting ANUG, take the following steps:
- Maintain a balanced, nutritional diet.
- Take proper care of teeth and gums.
- See your dentist regularly.
American Academy of Periodontology
American Dental Association
Canadian Dental Association
Canadian Dental Hygienists Association
Contreras A, Falkler WA Jr, Enwonwu CO, et al. Herman herpesviridae in acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis in children in Nigeria.
Oral Microbiol Immunol.
1997;12:259-265.
Last Reviewed September 2011