The three paired salivary glands and small buccal glands located throughout the oral cavity contribute to the approximately 1 liter of saliva produced in a day. Salivary flow can vary between 800 milliliters and 2 liters but this is regulated by a number of factors, especially nervous control by the brain >> Read More ...
Stomatitis is a general term for inflammation of the oral cavity, its lining and structures. It may involve a few isolated areas or the entire mouth. The signs of inflammation – pain, swelling, redness, warmth – are present to varying degrees. Pain is almost always a feature of stomatitis and mouth pain is >> Read More ...
Normal saliva production in the mouth varies from 1 to 2 liters per day. It is the highest just before and during eating and the lowest during sleep. However, saliva production does not stop entirely at any time in the day and at least 0.5 milliliters of saliva is secreted every minute. Saliva is mainly composed of mucus >> Read More ...
What is swallowing? The intake of food (ingestion) involves two mechanical processes. First the food is chewed (mastication) and then it is swallowed (deglutition). Once food enters the pharynx, the other processes like motility, digestion and absorption is involuntary. Swallowing is therefore the process of passing food >> Read More ...
The mouth comprises the lips, tongue, oral cavity, palate , gum, teeth, bones (maxilla and mandible) and oropharynx which communicates with the throat. The various structures play an important role in : the sense of taste intake of food and drink breaking down solid food by chewing and grinding (mastication) breathing >> Read More ...
Cacogeusia is the medical term for a bad (foul) taste in the mouth. It usually exists on its own and does not necessarily occur when eating or tasting food or drink that does not otherwise taste foul. At times an altered taste sensation, known as dysgeusia, can make food or drink taste foul, although under normal >> Read More ...
In children, loose and shaky teeth are commonly seen during normal childhood tooth loss when the primary or baby teeth make way for the permanent set of teeth. This starts around the age of 6 to 7 years and is usually complete by the age of 12 to 13. Children, with their sugary diet and active lifestyle, are more prone to >> Read More ...
Painful gums may be caused by local gum or mouth disease, injury, or a manifestation of other more generalized conditions. Although gum disease is a very common cause of gum pain, it is often a late symptom of gingivitis. Bleeding and/or swollen gums are more likely to precede gum pain. For this reason, even transient or >> Read More ...
Swelling of the gums (gingival swelling) is a common occurrence and is quite frequently accompanied by gum bleeding and/or pain and tenderness of the gums (refer to Bleeding Gums). Identifying the cause of swelling is essential for the proper treatment. If left untreated, it can progress to more severe conditions. Normal >> Read More ...
Although gum disease is the most common cause of bleeding gums, there are a number of other causes which need to be kept in mind, some harmless and easily treatable, while others may be more serious. According to the severity of the condition, the gums may take on a red or dusky appearance instead of the pink color of >> Read More ...
