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The Anatomy of The Mouth
The Anatomy of The Mouth
The Anatomy of The Mouth
Your mouth contains many different parts that work together to help you eat and speak. Your
teeth are made of many layers and are very important to your mouth, while the gums anchor your
teeth to your jaw and must be taken care of just as much as your teeth. Your tongue is made of
many different muscles that work very hard to help you chew, swallow, and talk. The floor of the
mouth is home to many ducts for salivary glands, which produce saliva that helps you chew and
digest food. Lips and cheeks are also very important parts of the mouth, and you should take
extra care to keep them healthy.
Your Gums
Healthy gums should be firm and pink. You can easily avoid gum disease by brushing your teeth
twice a day and flossing at least once every day. Always used a soft-bristled brush and choose
toothpaste that contains fluoride. Fluoride helps protect your teeth against cavities. You should
also replace your toothbrush every three to four months; old toothbrushes can easily damage
gums.
The Tongue
Your tongue is important because you need it to talk, eat, and taste. The tongue is attached to the
floor of the mouth by a piece of tissue called the frenulum. The top of your tongue is covered in
bumps called papillae. These bumps contain taste buds. Although babies are born with up to
10,000 taste buds, some die as we grow and age. Taste buds are covered in tiny hairs
called microvilli, which send a message to the brain about how something tastes. Taste buds
identify salty, sweet, bitter, and sour flavors. In order to practice good dental hygiene, it’s
important to brush your tongue as well as your teeth.
Cheeks
Many people don’t realize the importance of brushing the insides of your cheeks! The mouth is
home to over 3,000 species of bacteria, which can grow at a very rapid rate. To keep your mouth
in top-top shape, gently brush the insides of your cheeks each time you brush your teeth.
Lips
Your lips are covered with a thin, transparent layer of skin called stratum corneum. This skin can
easily become dry and damaged due to cold weather and wind (the cause of chapped lips) or sun
damage. That’s right-your lips can get sun damage! It’s important to use a lip balm with SPF 15
or more to prevent them from getting burned. Licking your lips can also cause them to become
chapped, because saliva causes the thin skin of your lips to dry out. If you begin to have dry or
flaky lips, you can use a mild lip scrub to remove the dead skin cells from your lips.