Digestion And Dental Health

You learned about digestion in biology; that it begins with chewing and ends with…well you know. What does that have to do with your dental health? Without teeth you can’t chew. Take our true or false quiz to find out how much you still remember about digestion and what it has to do with your dental health.

True or False

1. True or False: Your teeth are important to your digestion because the first step in digestion is chewing.
2. True or False: Your teeth are also important to your overall health.
3. True or False:If your oral health is suffering your overall health will suffer, as well.
4. True or False: Every part of your oral cavity needs to be comfortable and healthy in order to properly aid digestion.

Answers

1. True:  Healthy teeth are needed to chew your food into tiny pieces so they are easily digested. Your saliva also aids digestion by moistening your food so you can chew it easier, and your saliva contains enzymes that begin breaking the food down for digestion even as you chew.
2. True: Your teeth allow you to chew a variety of different textured foods including tough meat and greens and crunchy nuts. A variety of different foods provide a variety of vitamins and minerals that help keep you healthy.
3. True: If you have loose teeth, missing teeth, sore or bleeding gums, or cavities, it will be hard to chew. Tooth decay can cause pain discouraging you from eating crunchy or crisp foods such as fruits and vegetables. Missing teeth can make it difficult to chew meat, an important source of protein. You need to eat healthy to be healthy.
4. True:  Even your tongue muscle helps with digestion by moving food around your mouth so it can be chewed by different teeth, and moistened by your saliva. It also pushes food down into your stomach. If your teeth or tongue are sore or damaged, or if you are not producing enough saliva, food may be harder to swallow and your stomach may have to work harder to digest it.

About Your Reno Dentists

Dr. William Wager, Dr. Brian Evans, and our highly experienced team at Wager Evans Dental are devoted to our patients and their families, and dedicated to providing first-rate dental care in a comfortable, inviting environment. Located in Reno, we proudly welcome residents from Spanish Springs, Sparks, Incline Village, Dayton, Fernley, and all surrounding communities. To schedule a consultation or your next dental appointment, visit our office, or contact us today by calling (775) 800-4845.