🦷 Mouth and Teeth: Where Digestion Begins
Learn about oral anatomy, tooth types, baby vs adult teeth, and how to keep your child's mouth healthy
Why Are the Mouth and Teeth Important?
Every time we smile, frown, talk, or eat, we use our mouths and teeth. Our mouths and teeth let us make different facial expressions, form words, eat, drink, and begin the process of digestion. The mouth is essential for speech, and teeth help form words by controlling airflow out of the mouth.
🦷 Key Functions of the Mouth and Teeth
- •Speech: Teeth and tongue help form words and control airflow
- •Eating: Teeth tear, cut, and grind food for swallowing
- •Tasting: Tongue contains taste buds for sweet, salty, sour, and bitter
- •Digestion: Saliva moistens food and begins breaking down carbohydrates
What Do the Parts of the Mouth Do?
The mouth is lined with moist mucous membranes. The roof of the mouth is called the palate, with a hard bony front part and a soft fleshy rear part. The soft palate contains the uvula and works with the tonsils to protect the throat. The tongue is covered with papillae containing taste buds for sweet, salty, sour, and bitter tastes.
👅 Tongue and Taste
- • Covered with papillae containing taste buds
- • Detects sweet, salty, sour, and bitter tastes
- • Helps push food to teeth during chewing
- • Essential for speech and swallowing
💧 Salivary Glands
- • Secrete saliva to moisten food
- • Contain enzymes that begin carbohydrate digestion
- • Make chewing and swallowing easier
- • Help protect teeth from decay
How Do Teeth Do Their Job?
Each type of tooth plays a specific role in the chewing process. Humans develop two sets of teeth: 20 baby teeth (deciduous) that begin falling out around age 6, and 32 permanent adult teeth.
🦷 Incisors
Squarish, sharp-edged front teeth (4 top, 4 bottom)
Cut foods when we bite into them
🦷 Canines
Sharp, pointed teeth on either side of incisors
Tear and grip food (sometimes called eyeteeth)
🦷 Premolars
Also called bicuspids (4 in each jaw)
Grind and mash foods
🦷 Molars
Back teeth with points and grooves (12 total)
Allow vigorous chewing; wisdom teeth are third molars
What Are the Parts of the Teeth?
Human teeth are made up of four different types of tissue: pulp, dentin, enamel, and cementum. Each layer serves a specific purpose in protecting and nourishing the tooth.
🦷 Pulp
Innermost portion containing nerves and blood vessels
- • Nourishes the tooth
- • Contains pulp chamber and root canal
- • Blood vessels and nerves enter through root tip
🦷 Dentin
Hard yellow substance surrounding the pulp
- • Makes up most of the tooth
- • As hard as bone
- • Gives teeth their yellowish tint
🦷 Enamel
Hardest tissue in the body, covers the crown
- • Protects teeth from pressure and temperature
- • Forms outermost layer of crown
- • Shields against harmful bacteria
🦷 Cementum
Covers the root and holds tooth in place
- • Located under the gum line
- • Anchors tooth in jawbone
- • As hard as bone
How Can I Help Keep My Child's Mouth and Teeth Healthy?
🥗 Daily Care
- • Brush teeth twice daily for 2 minutes
- • Floss once daily when teeth touch
- • Offer nutritious diet, limit sugary snacks
- • Regular dental checkups
🛡️ Protection
- • Use mouthguards during sports
- • Never walk/run with objects in mouth
- • Keep home smoke-free
- • Address thumb sucking by age 4
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ When do baby teeth start falling out?
Baby teeth typically begin falling out around age 6, starting with the front teeth.
❓ What are wisdom teeth?
Wisdom teeth are the third molars that usually appear in late teens or early twenties. They may need removal if they cause crowding or problems.
❓ How does saliva help teeth?
Saliva moistens food, contains enzymes that begin digestion, and helps protect teeth from decay by washing away food particles.
📝Key Takeaways About Mouth and Teeth
- ✓Mouth and teeth are essential for speech, eating, tasting, and digestion.
- ✓Different tooth types (incisors, canines, premolars, molars) have specific functions.
- ✓Teeth have four layers: pulp, dentin, enamel, and cementum.
- ✓Good oral hygiene and regular dental care keep teeth healthy.
⚠️Medical Disclaimer
The information provided on this page about the mouth, teeth, oral health, dental care, and related topics is for educational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Every child is unique, and oral health concerns require individual assessment by qualified healthcare professionals.
Always consult with your child's pediatrician, dentist, or qualified healthcare provider if you have concerns about your child's oral health, dental development, or any related symptoms. For medical emergencies, call 911 or visit your nearest emergency room immediately. Content compiled from trusted pediatric health references and medically reviewed educational resources.