Your mouth is one of the most sensitive areas of the body and it should be treated with care to enable your teeth and gums to last a lifetime! Before we get into the details of your teeth, here’s a picture to help you see where everything actually is. The Mouth and Teeth Explained
It’s all well and good to take care of your mouth and teeth, but it’s also important to understand what and where everything is! Ottawa dentists feel that a patients understanding of their mouth and teeth will promote further health and awareness.
Saliva- Your major salivary glands produce a lining of saliva which is intended to keep your mouth moist and lubricated. More saliva is produced when you're eating or drinking which helps you to swallow and then digest your food. Your saliva also has a mild antiseptic which aids in the prevention of infection and the neutralising of acid.
Gums (Gingiva)- Are part of the soft tissue that lines the mouth. The gums surround the teeth and act as a seal. There are three areas that the gums are divided into and they are:
Marginal gingiva- the edge of the gums that surround the teeth
Attached gingiva- firm and tight around the alveolar bone and yet loose and movable around the alveolar mucosa.
Interdental gingiva- occupies the space beneath the area of the tooth.
The gums should be a healthy (coral) pink in colour and they should be smooth and tightly hugging each tooth. They should also not react to brushing or probing by bleeding or swelling. If this occurs, contact your Ottawa dentist immediately as it could be a warning sign of periodontal disease.
Tongue- Your tongue is actually the strongest muscle in your entire body! It isn't one muscle but actually it's made up of a few, smaller muscles that all run in different directions. Your tongue actually pushes the food you eat towards the back of the teeth where it can then be grinded up. Your tongue can also taste bitter, sour and sweet tastes by using separate areas of your tongue. For instance, the taste buds on either side of your tongue detect the sour substances, the taste buds at the back taste the bitter and there's receptors for all the other sweet and salty substances.
