Trench mouth, a severe gum disease, causes bad breath and tooth loss

When gum disease advances down your tooth roots to the bone bed, you have what's called periodontitis, a serious condition that causes the gums to pull away from the teeth. When this periodontal disease leads to sores and gangrene, you've got trench mouth, a terrible oral affliction that causes bad breath, pain, tooth loss and oral ulcers.

That's is why it's best to stay ahead of such problems by regularly using specialty breath freshening oral health products.

Trench mouth: The basics

Also known as Vincent's angina or, more commonly, acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis, trench mouth occurs when a dirty, infected mouth forms large, grayish ulcers on the gums. These pop up because of untreated gum disease and minimal oral health measures, usually aggravated by smoking or poor nutrition, according to the National Institutes of Health.

The condition first earned the nickname "trench mouth" during World War I, when entrenched soldiers got necrotizing gingivitis due to horrible health conditions.

While it's not as common these days - what with the rise of specialty breath freshening technology and better tooth care regimens - trench mouth still occurs fairly often. If left untreated, this condition can cause serious or even life-threatening health problems.

Avoid gum disease by following simple tips

Rather than risking trench mouth (or even basic gum disease), it's best to follow a few simple tips, provided by the Mayo Clinic.

- Avoid tobacco products and alcohol.

- If your gums are inflamed, skip spicy foods.

- See the dentist regularly.

- Use alcohol-free mouthwashes when cleansing the gums.

- Sip water throughout the day.