What is the mouth?
The mouth (lat.: Os) is the upper opening of the digestive tract, where food is divided and processed into a slippery and swallowable pulp. It is also involved in voice production, facial expression and breathing.
The oral cavity (cavitas oris) extends from the oral fissure (enclosed by the lips) to the pharyngeal fossa (the exit to the pharynx). The palate forms the roof of the oral cavity, the floor of the mouth its lower closure. The cheeks represent the lateral boundaries. Inside the oral cavity are the two rows of teeth and the tongue. The gap-shaped space between the lips and the closed rows of teeth is called the oral cavity vestibule.
What is the function of the mouth?
The mouth performs several functions:
Digestion
The mouth has the task of absorbing food together with the lips. The teeth, together with the chewing muscles, are responsible for biting off and crushing the ingested food. The incisors and canines have the task of dividing the food, while the molars have the task of crushing it and mixing it with saliva (saliva) to form a pulp. The muscular tongue supports the process.
Saliva is produced by various salivary glands, primarily the paired parotid glands, mandibular salivary glands and sublingual glands. The release of saliva is partly continuous, partly reflexive – for example, the smell of food, chewing movements and touch stimuli during dental visits can cause increased saliva to be secreted.
Saliva has other functions in addition to digestion. For example, it protects the oral mucosa from drying out. It is also antibacterial. Last but not least, saliva with various ingredients (such as bicarbonate) ensures that the prevailing acidity (pH) remains approximately in the neutral range. This is very important: If the environment is too alkaline over a longer period of time, tartar will form more quickly. If it is too acidic for a longer period of time, the tooth enamel becomes thinner.
Voice formation and facial expressions
Another important function of the mouth is as a resonance organ involved in voice formation. Due to the strong deformability of the palate, tongue and lips, speech can be articulated and sounds can be changed.
Where is the mouth located?
The mouth is located in the head of all mammals – including humans – and represents the upper end of the digestive tract. At the back is the transition to the pharynx, which passes into the esophagus and trachea.
What problems can the mouth cause?
Numerous health problems can occur in the mouth that are related to the mucosa, teeth, gums and/or lips. For example, aphthae – painful, small inflammations – are particularly common. They can affect the gums, oral cavity, tonsils and also the tongue. If the immune system is weakened, a fungal infection of the mucous membrane caused by Candida species develops. The medical term for this is candidiasis. Herpes simplex viruses can cause cold sores on the lips – painful, itchy blisters. If the herpes viruses infect the mucous membrane in the mouth, doctors refer to this as oral thrush.
