In Part 1, we looked at the importance of water. In Part 2 of this series, we’ll explore the mechanical and chemical components of eating.
I think most of us know that the food we eat must be broken down into their chemical components before the body can utilize it. This process, called digestion, starts in the mouth with the production of saliva, which contains enzymes to begin the process of breaking down food. More enzymes are produced in the stomach, pancreas, and liver to finish the breakdown of food so that it can be absorbed into our bloodstream by processes in the small intestine. The waste products formed during the digestive process are found in the large intestine, where water is reabsorbed and the solid mass that remains leaves the body when you have a bowel movement.
I am oversimplifying the chemical process because my purpose here is not to give you a lesson in the biological sciences of digestion. My purpose is to enlighten you about the double function of the digestion system so you will better understand that when a problem does arise, it is not always related to the chemical (digestive) part of eating. For many, problems arise in the mechanical or ingestional part of eating.
Earlier I said that digestion begins in the mouth with the production of saliva. Too little salivary production results in a condition called dry mouth. Dry mouth is pretty uncomfortable; the most prominent symptom is a sticky or clingy sensation under the lips, tongue, and inside the cheeks. Food sticks to the insides of the mouth and under the tongue, and it becomes difficult to break down.
It is both the moisture derived from the saliva and the enzymes that it produces that results in a softened ball of indistinguishable food called a bolus. Without saliva the food particles would harden around your teeth, swallowing would become difficult or impossible, and if you were able to swallow the bolus, the lack of moisture would increase your chance of choking.
But saliva doesn’t act alone in the mechanical process of digestion. Your teeth and tongue are critical team members: the teeth break down the food into smaller pieces while the tongue helps to move the food around the mouth and propel it (now called a bolus) to the back of the throat so you can swallow it. The three work in unison; all you have to do is introduce the food and the mouth does the rest. The esophagus (food pipe) moves the bolus down with a milking action called peristalsis. When the bolus enters the stomach it is further broken down, both mechanically (by a churning process) and chemically (by the production of enzymes).
Dental cavities, missing teeth, swollen gums, sores, and poor-fitting dentures or partials can contribute to chewing problems. The tongue is a muscle, and muscle injuries to the tongue can result in difficulties in either moving the food around the mouth or propelling the food to the back of the throat. Swallowing difficulties are mostly observed in the elderly because as we age the act of peristalsis slows down, making swallowing difficult.
So now you know that digestive issues can actually occur from ingestional insults resulting from problems above the stomach. The next time you think it is your stomach that is giving you trouble-think outside the stomach. Proper oral hygiene is not just important because of the potential for digestive (or ingestion-related) complications. Poor oral hygiene can also result in a variety of systemic ailments that usually start out as an infection in the mouth and are absorbed into the bloodstream, which spreads them throughout the body.
But there is a silver lining to all of this! Most ingestion-related problems can be avoided by following some pretty basic steps:
1. Brush and floss your teeth daily, and don’t forget to clean your tongue.
2. Replace your toothbrush every three months.
3. Visit your dentist twice a year for an oral inspection, cleaning, and cancer screening.
4. Seek medical attention for all oral infections. If you are prone to canker and other oral sores, don’t ignore them.
5. Drink plenty of water to keep your mouth moist.
6. Slow down and enjoy your food. Take small bites, thoroughly chew your food, and have a drink available to help moisten the food.
7. Your mother was right when she said. “Don’t talk with food in your mouth.” You not only swallow a lot of air when you do this, but you also increase your chances of choking on your food.
Next week, I will finish up the third and final part of this series by exploring healthy bowels.
In health and wellness,
Dr. Linda Mundorff
