*acm.uiuc.edu |
Your mouth is made up of more than just teeth, so good oral
health goes beyond simply brushing and flossing. In addition to your teeth,
your mouth is made up of gums, oral mucosa, the upper and lower jaw, the
tongue, salivary glands, the uvula, and the frenulum. All of these structures
play an important role when it comes to good dental health and are routinely
examined when you receive dental care.
The Oral Mucosa
When you open your mouth and look in the mirror, everything
that isn’t a tooth is covered by a protective lining called the oral mucosa,
which is a mucous membrane similar to the mucous membranes that line your
nostrils and inner ears.
The oral mucosa plays an essential role in maintaining your
oral health, as well as your overall health, by defending your body from germs
and other irritants that enter your mouth. A tough substance called keratin,
also found in your fingernails and hair, helps make the oral mucosa resistant
to injury.
The Gums
Your gums are the pinkish tissue that surrounds and supports
your teeth. Also covered by oral mucosa, gums play a critical role in your oral
health. Healthy gums are firm, cover the entire root of the tooth, and do not
bleed when brushed, poked, or prodded. Gum disease can ultimately lead to tooth
loss, so taking care of your gums by flossing daily is just as essential to
dental care as brushing your teeth.
The Upper and Lower Jaw
Your jaws give your face its shape and your mouth the
structure it needs for chewing and speech. Human jaws are made up of several
bones: The upper jaw contains two bones that are fused to each other and to the
rest of your skull, while the lower jawbone is separate from the rest of the
skull, enabling it to move up and down when you speak and chew.
The Tongue
The tongue is a powerful muscle covered in specialized
mucosal tissue that includes your taste buds. The tongue is not just important
to your oral health — it's also considered an integral part of the body's
digestive system — it's responsible for moving food to your teeth, and when
chewed food is ready to be swallowed, the tongue moves it to the back of the
throat so it can proceed into the esophagus. In babies, the tongue and the jaw
work together to enable the infant to breastfeed.Additionally, the tongue plays
an essential role in the ability to speak by shaping the sounds that come out
of your mouth.
The Salivary Glands
You have three sets of salivary glands in your mouth and
neck: the parotid, submandibular, and sublingual glands. These glands produce
saliva, which contains special enzymes that help break down food, making it
easier for you to swallow. Saliva is critical to good oral health, because it
protects your teeth and gums by rinsing away food particles and bacteria and by
helping to counteract acidic foods that can wear down the protective enamel on
your teeth.
The Uvula
The uvula is the small flap of tissue which hangs down at
the back of your throat. The uvula is composed of muscle fibers as well as
connective and glandular tissues. Like other soft tissue structures in the
mouth, the uvula is covered by oral mucosa. The uvula has long been a source of
curiosity for scientists as all of its functions are not yet fully understood.
However, it seems to play some role in speech and in keeping the mouth and
throat moist.
The Frenulum Linguae
The frenulum is a flap of oral mucosa that connects the
tongue to the floor of the mouth. This tissue allows the tongue to move about
as it does its job. If an infant is born with a frenulum that is too short, or
not elastic enough, he or she can have trouble breastfeeding. A short frenulum
can also affect speech.
The next time you’re brushing your teeth, spend a minute
looking at the parts of the mouth that lie farther inside the oral cavity.
Knowing what these structures do and what they look like can help you to
maintain optimal oral health.
Article by: Connie Brichford from everydayhealth.com
Call Omni Dental today at (512) 250-5012 to speak with one of our specialists about the latest ways of enhancing your smile and dental health. You can also go to our website: omnidentalgroup.com for more information.
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