Acute Necrotizing Ulcerative Gingivitis (ANUG) is an oral infection that is characterized by necrosis of gingiva. Ulcers of oral mucosa also occur in patients with severe nutritional deficiencies.

Clinical manifestations of ANUG:

• Sudden pain, tenderness, profuse salivation, a peculiar metallic taste and spontaneous bleeding from the gingival tissues.

• Patient commonly experiences loss of sense of taste.

• Ulcers develop most commonly on the interdental papillae and the marginal gingivae.

Treatment:

At the initial visit the gingivae should be debrided with both irrigation and periodontal curettage. The extent of debridement depends on the soreness of the gingivae. Antibiotics are usually not necessary for routine cases of ANUG. These cases can be successfully treated by debridement, irrigation and curettage.