We use our mouths to eat, drink, and speak, but have you ever wondered what all the different parts are and what they’re used for? There are actually way more components than you might think. Read on to learn about the different parts of the mouth and how they work together to help you understand why it’s so important to maintain good oral health.
Lips and Cheeks
The lips and cheeks are made of muscles that help keep your teeth in place. They also allow you to breathe and speak comfortably, keep food and saliva from falling out of your mouth, and allow you to make a range of different facial expressions.
Tongue
The tongue is incredibly strong and consists of roughly 10,000 taste buds. It helps you speak and form sounds, eat food, swallow, and taste all the yummy (and not so yummy) foods the world has to offer.
Teeth and Gums
The gums help hold your teeth in place so they can maintain your facial shape as well as tear and chew food. Our gums also protect the tooth roots from decay. Though the gums play a big part in keeping your teeth where they belong, what actually holds your teeth in your mouth is a part of the jaw called the alveolar bone.
Salivary Glands
Saliva keeps your mouth moist and helps to wash bad bacteria and food particles out of your mouth to prevent tooth decay. Additionally, saliva allows you to chew, swallow, and speak with ease while also protecting your tooth enamel by neutralizing acids in the mouth.
Temporomandibular Joints
This joint is located on either side of the jaw and connects to your skull. They allow you to open and close your mouth as well as easily chew, swallow, and speak.
Why It’s Import to Care for Your Oral Health
If the parts of your mouth don’t work together correctly, this can lead to serious oral health problems such as tooth decay, cavities, gum disease, dry mouth, temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD), or misaligned teeth. Keep up with good oral hygiene at home and visit the dentist twice per year to have your teeth professionally cleaned and examined. By doing this, you can keep these problems from developing and allow your oral cavity to function as it should.
As you can see, there are many different parts of the mouth that are easy to take for granted. Make sure you show them your appreciation by taking good care of them and maintaining healthy gums, a strong jaw, and a lovely smile.
About the Practice
Dr. Eric Buck, Dr. Hannah Burton, and their talented team at Distinctive Smiles of Dublin strive to help patients achieve the grins of their dreams. Their team of dental experts can answer any questions you have about how the mouth functions so you can understand the importance of maintaining good dental health. Are you ready to set up an appointment? Call Distinctive Smiles of Dublin at (614) 792-1800 or visit their website to get started.