Oral health involves a lot more than just our teeth! Our mouths are made of many different components working together so that we can eat, speak, smile, breathe, and digest food. Knowing all the parts can help us understand why caring for them is so important and why it’s wise to keep up with dental appointments. Keep reading to learn more!
Lips and Cheeks
These parts of our mouths are made of connective tissue, skin, and strong muscles. They do more than just keep our teeth in place. They work together so that we can form certain shapes to speak and to let air in our mouths for breathing, which is essential for communication. They’re also responsible for keeping food and saliva in our mouths while we chew.
Tongue
This powerful muscle is integral in how we taste foods. It’s lined with about 10,000 sensory receptors called tastebuds that allow us to experience the many different flavors in the foods we eat. It’s these that let us know whether what we’re eating is sweet, savory, salty, or bitter.
The tongue also plays a major role in eating and speaking. It’s constantly moving and shifting to form words or swallow the food in our mouths.
Teeth, Gums, Alveolar Bone
These parts work together to give our face its shape and to chew food so that we can nourish our bodies. Our teeth are made of hard enamel that serves to protect the tender roots that anchor them into our jawbone. The alveolar bone is the part of our jaw that our teeth attach to which keeps them secure. Our gums also stabilize them and cover the roots so they’re not exposed. We rely on these three working together to be able to tear into and chew food, but also to pronounce certain sounds and words.
Salivary Glands
These glands produce saliva in our mouths, which is the first part of the digestive process. It begins to break down food while you chew before it even reaches your stomach. It also keeps our mouths moist so that we can swallow and speak. Because it also naturally cleanses bacteria and food particles, it helps protect our teeth and gums from disease and decay.
Temporomandibular Joint
We have 2 of these joints that attach our lower jaw to our skull and allow us to open and close our mouths or move our jaw from side to side. They are located on the sides of our face, just in front of the ear lobes. Without them, having a conversation or a meal would be impossible. If they become inflamed from misalignment or teeth grinding, they can become quite painful and cause challenges with daily tasks.
As you can see, there are many components that make up our mouths and each requires cleaning and care. It’s important to brush and floss twice daily and visit a dentist every 6 months for a checkup and cleaning. With proactive care, you can keep your smile healthy for life!
About the Practice
At Advanced Dental Concepts, you’ll find solutions for both minor and complex dental problems for patients of all ages. We accept dental insurance and also provide the option to join our Wellness Plan so that cost doesn’t keep you from the dental care you deserve. If you’d like to make your 6-month checkup, you’re welcome to request an appointment on our website or by calling (219) 322-3418.