The Mouth and Buccal Cavity - Anatomy of the Human Mouth (2024)

FAQs

The Mouth and Buccal Cavity - Anatomy of the Human Mouth? ›

The mouth is an oval-shaped cavity inside the skull. The two main functions of the mouth are eating and speaking. Parts of the mouth include the lips, vestibule, mouth cavity, gums, teeth, hard and soft palate, tongue and salivary glands. The mouth is also known as the oral cavity or the buccal cavity.

The buccal cavity mainly comprises the primary organ of the digestive system including the teeth, tongue and salivary glands. The mouth is an opening through which the food is taken inside the body. It is bounded by lips and its inner parts comprise the cheeks, tongue, upper jaw and lower jaw.

Adults have more teeth than children; most adults have 32 teeth. Among these teeth are 8 incisors, 4 canines, 8 premolars, and 12 molars (including 4 wisdom teeth).

(OR-ul KA-vih-tee) Refers to the mouth. It includes the lips, the lining inside the cheeks and lips, the front two thirds of the tongue, the upper and lower gums, the floor of the mouth under the tongue, the bony roof of the mouth, and the small area behind the wisdom teeth.

Parts of the mouth include the lips, vestibule, mouth cavity, gums, teeth, hard and soft palate, tongue and salivary glands. The mouth is also known as the oral cavity or the buccal cavity.

The buccal cavity is present at the beginning of the digestive tract, and is where the process of digestion begins. It is involved in processes such as chewing and swallowing (i.e., mechanical digestion), and also plays a role in communication and vocalization.

Digestion of carbohydrate occurs in the buccal cavity. When the ingest, teeth in buccal cavity chew the food particles and tongue mix the food and saliva from the salivary gland. This food paste is called as a bolus. Saliva contains salivary amylase enzyme that converts complex carbohydrate in a simpler form.

The buccal cavity helps to take the food inside by the process of ingestion by. performing two major functions: Mastication of food, Facilitation of swallowing.

Salivary glands are present in the buccal cavity and secrete saliva that helps in the digestion of food.

The palate is commonly called the roof of the mouth. It is divided into two parts: the bony hard palate in the front, and the fleshy soft palate (called the velum) in the back of the mouth.

What happens if you lose your molars? ›

If one is missing, the teeth will grow haphazardly due to misalignment. The missing tooth can cause adjacent teeth to lean and shift into the gap. This ruins the natural alignment of teeth, causing a crooked smile, bite problems, jaw problems, or headaches.

The buccal (or cheek-side) of your teeth are usually smooth. One exception is that your lower molars may have buccal pits. The lingual (or tongue-side) of your teeth are also usually smooth, this time with an exception of upper molars that often have lingual grooves ending in a pit.

Difference Between the Mouth and Buccal Cavity

The major organ of the digestive system, comprising the teeth, tongue, and salivary glands, is housed in the buccal cavity. The mouth is an orifice that allows food to enter the body. It is bordered by lips and contains the cheeks, tongue, upper jaw, and lower jaw.

Most cases are dental caries (tooth decay), periodontal diseases, tooth loss and oral cancers. Other oral conditions of public health importance are orofacial clefts, noma (severe gangrenous disease starting in the mouth mostly affecting children) and oro-dental trauma.

In comparison to an oral ulcer, a fissure represents a deep groove or crack in the soft tissues, rather than a loss of the top layer of tissue.

(BUH-kul myoo-KOH-suh) The inner lining of the cheeks.

Compared to orally ingested capsules and tablets, buccal tablets provide a more rapid onset of action because the oral mucosa is highly vascularised. Buccal tablets are also used in emergency situations because they can exert their effects quickly.

Cavities are areas in the hard surface of your teeth that are damaged. These areas of tooth decay become tiny openings or holes that can lead to a serious toothache, infection and tooth loss.

If your dentist says you have a buccal, it points to a cavity that needs filling. Discoloration of the teeth and other signs of decay should not go unnoticed either, let alone untreated. There are no compromises in oral hygiene, especially the grooves and irregular surfaces of the teeth.