Show Y Your our Family Doctor Dacia Gum I Infection Needs Dental Care By Dr Thomas D. D Masters Trench-mouth Trench as one might suspect from the title acquired its name during the last war war war- and may be expected to occur again in World war II IL Trench-mouth Trench is an infection n of the gums and throat caused by the strange consorting of two dissimilar organisms a marriage unfortunate indeed for the vi vic victim Vie Vie- tim o o of infection One organism is spindle shaped or the other is spirochete shaped like a a. corkscrew Trench mouth is highly contagious contagious contagious conta conta- and may be passed along by such common forms of contact con con- contact contact con con- tact as kissing or dishes It is most likely to appear following acute infections or in persons debilitated or run down Pyorrhea Pyorrhea Pyor- Pyor Pyorrhea rhea and dental decay lay open the path for It Or it may be a a. frequent complication of several serious underlying constitutional disturbances May Invade Tonsils The gums become tender swollen and may bleed easily The breath takes on a peculiarly unpleasant odor The infection may spread onto the tonsils in which event the tonsil is swollen red and covered with a gray dirty membrane like coat Occasionally Occasionally Occasionally Oc Oc- Oc- Oc the bronchial tree and the lung tissue may be Invaded invaded in In- by the same organisms The factor that ties trench- trench mouth to war is probably that of nutrition There is considerable evidence that inadequate diet plays an important role in making making making mak mak- ing it possible for these organisms organisms organ organ- isms urns to assert themselves At present there are pointers In the direction of Insufficiency of vitamins vitamins vitamins vita vita- mins C B and A In the order named with the preponderance in C C. C It Is probable that they explain explain explain ex ex- ex- ex plain at least part of the nutritional nutritional nutritional deficiency there may be other factors involved too Obviously in the treatment of this infection also called Vincents Vincent's Vincent's Vincents Vincents Vincent's Vin Vin- Vin- Vin cents cent's angina It its it's is wise to insure insure in insure in- in sure a completely adequate diet and take extra quantities of the vIta vitamins ns mentioned from both natural and artificial sources The organisms multiply best Jn n locations from which air is excluded Therefore around loose teeth under flaps of gum overlying partially-erupted partially third molars and beneath overhanging overhang overhang- ing crowns or fillings the infection infection tion may thrive and spread else else- where The treatment again Includes in includes includes in- in the local care of a dentist in correcting such conditions as ase e encourage corage co rage the growth of ot the organ organisms sms Use Peroxide For For home home treatment the chemi chemicals als that tha release free Jre oxy oxygen gen are ate useful in iii that they do donot not provide ideal environment Tle t. t for the organisms The b best besl f these is is hydrogen peroxide which may be used as a mouthwash mouthwash mouth- mouth w wash ash in full tull strength or diluted with an equal amount o of warm water Used at frequent nt inter- inter two hours hours j v say vals every and in conjunction with a a. high vitamin Intake and dental at attention attention attention at- at it will satisfactorily cure most cases of ol trench trench- mouth The infection has a a. tendency to recur and all measures should be taken to avoid the recurrence Because of the difficulties in in- in herent in the control of the infection in infection in- in infection and the important causes for it red it-red red swollen bleeding gums gum's always indicate medical care The means described here ar are to be employed only until the help of a physician can ean be secured |