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Mouth

The mouth is the oval-shaped oral cavity located at the top of the digestive tract and consists of two parts: the vestibule and the oral cavity proper.

Recently Answered Questions

What are the three classic types of smiles?
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by Dr. Mehmet Oz
There are three classic types of smiles that include the following: - Mona Lisa (two-thirds of people): The corners of the mouth are pulled up and out, and the upper lip is raised to show the upper teeth. The most attractive show all of their top teeth and about two millimeters of gums (any more and the smile is classified as "gummy"). The Mona Lisa smile is considered the most attractive, with ...
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How do your teeth - and your smile - change as you age?
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by Dr. Michael Roizen
As you age, your teeth get worn down naturally, and the soft tissue around the mouth descends. This can leave you with a Richard Nixon smile - showing all lower teeth and no upper teeth. Teeth are going to move until they touch something that will make them stop. That might be a tongue, dental appliance, or other teeth. As teeth wear down and get shorter, this changes the normal tooth/gum ratio a...
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What is the purpose of your tongue?
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by Dr. Mehmet Oz
Besides being your taster, your tongue also helps you swallow and protects you from swallowing poison; you can thank your taste buds for that. Controlled by eight muscles and four nerves, your tongue helps move food and liquids down your esophagus. Of course, few people think of the tongue as an organ of beauty; normal tongues are moist, pink, and have bigger bumps toward the back. It's when you ...
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What is gum disease?
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by Dr. Michael Roizen
We all know how well that peas-in-the-teeth look impresses first dates and job interviewers, but it doesn't go over too well with the rest of your body either. When plaque - that sticky gunk made up of bacteria, saliva, and yesterday's dinner - wedges between your teeth into your gums, it triggers a process of inflammation that leads to periodontal disease (gingivitis is the infection of the gums...
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What's the minimum amount of time you should brush your teeth?
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by Dr. Michael Roizen
Two minutes. That's right, 120 seconds. Waiting in traffic, two minutes seems like an eternity. Playing in bed, two minutes feels like a flash. At the sink, two minutes is the time you need to spend brushing your teeth in order to clean them adequately and reduce plaque.
What type of toothbrush should I use?
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by Dr. Mehmet Oz
Use a soft brush and rub the bristles up toward the gums, so you can get to the actual cusps and gum. Change your toothbrush every two months. If you can afford to spend more than a few bucks on a toothbrush - and your teeth are worth the investment - I'd consider going high-tech and getting a Sonic toothbrush. Those new-fangled ultrasonic brushes amaze many dentists with their plaque fighting ab...
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How should I use a sonic toothbrush?
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by Dr. Michael Roizen
To use a sonic toothbrush, you should follow these instructions: - Wet the bristles and use a small bit of toothpaste. - Place the toothbrush bristles against the teeth at a slight angle toward the gumline. Power up. - Apply light pressure to let the brush do the brushing for you (as with a sensitive co-worker, don't push too hard). - Gently brush the head slowly across the teeth in small back an...
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Why should I floss?
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by Dr. Mehmet Oz
You've heard it a million times, and you probably still don't do it. Despite the pleading from dentists, from doctors, and from people who notice that ill-placed broccoli floret, 80 percent of us still don't floss. When you don't floss, you're not cleaning 40 percent of the tooth. Get this: Dentists consider flossing even more crucial for preventing tooth decay and periodontal disease than brushi...
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What is the right way to floss?
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by Dr. Michael Roizen
You can't just floss. You need to floss the right way. So here's the right way: the floss should barely pass between each tooth and should gently touch the gums. If your floss breaks, try the thicker or waxed stuff, or the floss made with Gore-Tex material. You can also ask your dentist to file down the "contact points" between your teeth so you can floss more easily. The wrong way: You can't get...
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What are the risks of not flossing?
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Most Recent Answer
by Dr. Mehmet Oz
If you don't floss, you're allowing bacteria and plaque to remain in between your teeth, and you're inviting gum disease. At least remember to save up the money to buy the dentures you're eventually going to need - as well as the coronary artery bypass graft, Viagra, and Botox - since gum disease says a lot about how you look and about the inner health of your arteries.
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