Vincent's infection, often referred to as trench mouth, is a severe and painful infection characterized by the swelling and shedding of dead tissue in the mouth and throat, originating from gum infections. While specific bacteria and spirochetes are believed to play a role, the complete understanding of this historically recognized disease remains elusive. Named after French doctor Henri Vincent (1862-1950), the term "angina" is derived from the Latin "angere," meaning "to choke or throttle." Due to its complex nature, this condition is known by several other names, including acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis (ANUG), acute membranous gingivitis, fusospirillary gingivitis, fusospirillosis, necrotizing gingivitis, phagedenic gingivitis, ulcerative gingivitis, and Vincent gingivitis.
