In developed countries, necrotizing gingivitis occurs mostly in young adults with predisposing factors such as psychological stress, sleep deprivation, poor oral hygiene, smoking, immunosuppression and/or malnutrition.

Due to shared predisposing factors in a population (e.g. students during a period of examinations, armed forces recruits) necrotizing gingivitis is known to occur in epidemic-type patterns.

The main features of necrotizing gingivitis are painful, bleeding gums and ulceration and necrosis of the interdental papilla.

There may also be intra-oral halitosis, cervical lymphadenitis (swollen lymph nodes in the neck) and malaise.

In the meantime, NG, NP, and NS are classified together under the term necrotizing periodontal diseases.

[1] Noma (also termed cancrum oris) is a necrotizing and destructive infection of the mouth and face, and therefore not strictly speaking a periodontal disease.

The condition is named after Jean Hyacinthe Vincent, a French physician who was working at the Paris Pasteur Institute.