How does the mouth transform food?
Digestion starts in the mouth where teeth break up food into small pieces. The incisors cut, the canines tear and the molars crush food. This mechanical transformation is called mastication.



What does saliva do?
The mouth’s salivary glands secrete saliva, which moistens food, making it easier to break up. This process is called insalivation, and transforms the food into the bolus. Saliva contains enzymes that start the chemical digestion process. Salivary amylase breaks down certain complex carbohydrates, such as starch, into smaller elements, called simple carbohydrates, such as glucose.

How does the tongue help digestion?
The tongue is a very powerful muscle that helps move food around the mouth, making it easier to chew and mix with saliva. The tongue also propels the bolus of food towards the back of the mouth so it can be swallowed. Taste buds on the tongue enable us to determine how food tastes.

Did you know that saliva plays an important role in our perception of taste? Taste buds are only sensitive to dissolved substances. Food must therefore be soaked with saliva for us to be able to sense what it tastes like.