Vincent's angina, also known as acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis, is a rare and severe disease of the gums, which is characterized by the excessive development of bacteria inside the mouth, causing infection and inflammation, leading to the formation of ulcers and death of gum tissue.
Generally, treatment is carried out with antibiotics, but it is also very important to maintain proper oral hygiene, washing your teeth after eating and always using a mouthwash. Learn how to brush your teeth properly.
In addition, when the problem causes severe pain, the doctor may also prescribe the use of analgesic or anti-inflammatory drugs, such as Paracetamol, Naproxen or Ibuprofen, for example, which can help relieve symptoms.
What causes
Vincent's angina is an infection caused by the overgrowth of bacteria in the mouth and is therefore more common in weakened immune systems such as HIV or lupus infections.
However, the disease can also arise in cases of malnutrition, degenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's, or in populations in poorly developed regions, due to poor hygiene.
Most common signs and symptoms
Due to the overgrowth of bacteria in the mouth, the first signs include pain, swelling and redness of the gums or throat. However, after a few hours, other symptoms may appear, such as:
- Canker sores in the gums and / or throat;
- Severe pain when swallowing, especially on one side of the throat;
- Bleeding gums;
- Metallic taste in the mouth and bad breath;
- Swelling of the neck waters.
In addition, in some cases, bacteria that develop in the mouth can also produce a thin gray film that makes the gums darker. In such cases, when the film does not disappear with proper oral hygiene, it may be necessary to go to the dentist to do a professional cleaning with local anesthesia.
How the treatment is done
Treatment usually consists of administration of antibiotics, such as amoxicillin, erythromycin or tetracycline, to prevent the infection from spreading, debridement with a manual or ultrasonic scraping device, frequent washing with chlorhexidine or hydrogen peroxide solutions, painkillers and anti-inflammatories , to reduce pain, such as paracetamol, ibuprofen or naproxen, cleaning performed by a professional and correct oral hygiene.
To prevent the onset of this disease, it is recommended to perform correct oral hygiene, eat a balanced diet with fruits and vegetables and avoid excess stress, which weakens the immune system. Here's what to do to strengthen your immune system.
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