Digestive+journey+starts;+Mouth

====The fluid released when your mouth waters in responding to hunger or thoughts of a delicious meal is called Saliva. Saliva plays an important role in both mechanical and chemical digestive process which takes place in the mouth. ==== ====Mechanical Digestion: carried out by teeth were cutting of food into a bite begins with the Incisors. Tearing and slashing of food to smaller pieces also by the Canines. ==== ====Premolars and Molars later crush and grind the food. Saliva mixes with pieces of food moistening them into a slippery mass. ====

Questions:
kawssar : An adult should have 32 teeth with 8 incisors, 4 canines, 8 premolars, and 12 molars which include the four wisdom teeth Hawraa: in adults:we should have 32 teeth with 8 incisors, 4 canines, 8 premolars, and 12 molars which include the four wisdom teeth. __**Samia El Kurdi:**__ A normal adult have thirty two teeth with eight incisors, four canines, eight premolars, and twelve molars which include the four wisdom teeth.
 * 1) ====How many teeth does a normal adult have? ====

2- What is the function of the Saliva? Kawssar: As part of the initial process of food digestion, the enzymes in the saliva break down some of the starch and fat in the food at the molecular level. Saliva also breaks down food caught in the teeth, protecting them from bacteria that cause decay. Furthermore, saliva lubricates and protects the teeth, the tongue, and the tender tissues inside the mouth. Saliva also plays an important role in tasting food, by trapping thiols produced from odorless food compounds by anaerobic bacteria living in the mouth

Hawraa: The main function of saliva is to flush out all of the micro-organisms that could potentially threaten our health.The flow of saliva constantly bathes the mouth and detaches all micro-organisms that are not already firmly attached to a surface.This makes it difficult for bacteria to adhere to surfaces to even begin to form biofilms. Many harmful micro-organisms, therefore, are unable to attach quick enough to a surface before they are caught in saliva and swallowed.Besides, there are other functions of saliva, such as tasting the food and breaking it down by the enzymes present in it to prepare it for digestion. __**Samia El Kurdi:**__

The function of the salvia is that it helps prevent tooth decay. Without saliva, food particles that get caught between the teeth would stay there much longer, causing plaque and cavities to develop much more quickly. It also lubricates the mouth and has enzymes to begin breaking down food.

3-What is the scientific term used for the mushed up slippery mass of food? Kawssar: bolus Hawraa:﻿ bolus.

__**Samia El Kurdi:**__ The scientific term used for the mushed up slippery mass of food is bolus.

References:

Nemours. (n.d.). //Your Digestive System//. Kids health. Retrieved June 2, 2011, from http://kidshealth.org/kid/htbw/digestive_system.html

The mouth. Retrieved June, 2011, from http://www.3dscience.com/img/Products/Images/clip_art/digestive_open_mouth_web.jpg