While you may value your smile, you can’t care for it well if you know little about it. Protecting your grin properly requires that you grasp its makeup, how its pieces fit together, etc. That said, you’re in luck; learning about the key parts of your mouth isn’t hard. Your Carrollton dentist will even teach them to you, ensuring your oral health remains strong. To that end, here are four crucial parts of your mouth and the roles they play in your overall smile.
Teeth & Gums
You certainly already know what teeth and gums are. Still, reviewing their traits will help you look after them better.
Your teeth are calcified structures in your mouth, while the gums are the pink tissues surrounding those structures. They act together to let you eat, speak, and smile, thus improving your quality of life. Teeth do so by breaking down foods, as well as by helping your tongue position itself to enunciate words. In contrast, your gums do so by keeping your pearly whites stable and secure.
The Tongue
Most people don’t consider the tongue very much. However, grasping its specific features will greatly benefit your smile’s health.
Your tongue is basically a digestive organ that takes up much of your mouth. As it positions itself against the rest of your oral cavity, it ensures you can chew food, breathe, etc. The tongue also lets you taste foods and drinks due to its 10,000 taste buds – little bumps that detect various flavors.
The Masseter Muscle
It wouldn’t be surprising if you’ve never heard of the masseter muscle. Regardless, you’d do well to learn this mouth part’s definition.
The masseter muscle is the strongest muscle in your body, let alone your mouth. It runs through the rear part of the oral cavity – from the lower part of your skull to the lower jaw. Given this makeup, the muscle allows you to open and close your mouth and clinch your teeth forcefully.
Lips & Cheeks
Lastly, it’s a good idea to look into your lips and cheeks. Once you know how these mouth parts work, you’ll want to monitor them more closely.
The lips are two folds of tissue around your mouth, whereas the cheeks are the fleshy sides of your face below the eyes. This body-part duo consists of strong muscles that enable you to smile, frown, kiss, and speak. Furthermore, they can act as a guide in keeping your teeth in the right (i.e., aligned) positions.
The parts of your mouth are all important, so please remember those listed above. You’ll sport a much healthier smile that way!
About the Practice
DD Family Dentistry of Carrollton is based in Carrollton, TX. Led by Drs. Devarakonda and Morrison, our practice makes accessible and convenient care its top priority. We thus offer a wide range of preventive, cosmetic, and even restorative services, as well as emergency dental treatments. No matter your smile’s problem, rest assured – our team can help your grin thrive again! For more details or to book a visit, please contact us on our website or by phone at (972)-236-7906.