Your mouth is more
than teeth, making good oral hygiene habits even more important. Your mouth is
made up of the lower and upper jaw, oral mucosa, gums, salivary glands, the
tongue, the frenulum, and the uvula. All of these play a very important role in
your overall dental health.
Upper/Lower Jaw
Your jaws are what give
your mouth structure and your face shape. You need both to speak and chew.
Humans have two bones in the upper jaw that are fused together. Your upper jaw
is also fused to your skull. The lower jawbone is separate from your skull as
it enables your jaw to move both up and down when you talk and eat.
Oral Mucosa
Open your mouth and
you will see that everything, besides your teeth, is covered with oral mucosa.
This protective liner is a mucous membrane that is like the mucous membranes in
your inner ears and nostrils. The mucosa plays an important role when it comes
to maintaining your overall and oral health. Your oral mucosa contains keratin,
which is also found in your hair and fingernails making it resistant to injury.
Gums
The pinkish tissue
surrounding your teeth is known as your gums. Covered by oral mucosa, your gums
play a crucial role when it comes to your overall health as recent studies have
indicated that your mouth is the gateway to the rest of your body. Healthy gums
cover the roots of your teeth, are firm, and will not bleed when you brush and
floss. Gingivitis and the more serious periodontal disease can lead to tooth
loss and other problems such as heart disease and stroke.
Salivary Glands
There are three sets
of salivary glands in your neck and mouth. The submandibular, the parotid, and
the sublingual glands. All of these glands produce saliva that will help break
down the food you consume. Saliva is vital to oral health as it protects your
gums and your teeth by rinsing away the bacteria and the plaque. Saliva also
counteracts with the acidic foods that will wear down the enamel on your teeth.
Tongue
Your tongue is a very
powerful muscle that is covered in a special type of mucosal tissue. That
tissue also contains your taste buds. Your dentist explains that your tongue is
vital to your oral health as it aids in digestion. Your tongue moves food to
the teeth, and when it has been chewed is swallowed thanks to the tongue moving
it to the back of your throat before heading to the esophagus.
Uvula
The tissue that hangs
at the back of the throat is called the uvula. Composed of glandular and
connective tissue and muscle fibers it has had scientists baffled about what it
really does and while all of the functions are not totally understood, it does
seem to play a role in talking and keeping your mouth moist.
Frenulum
The flap of oral
mucosa, the frenulum, connects the floor of your mouth to your tongue and
allows it to do its job by moving your tongue. If a baby is born with a short
frenulum, or one that isn’t elastic enough, he or she will have trouble
breastfeeding. A short frenulum can also affect your child’s speech.
