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The mouth is one of the most important parts of the body for several reasons. We at Hendersonville Family Dental are passionate about oral health and helping our clients and their children keep their mouths and teeth healthy. It is important to teach your children the different parts of the mouth and how to properly care for their teeth. If you are in need of a new dentist or need more oral health information to teach your children, feel free to reach out to us at Hendersonville Family Dental. Continue reading to learn more.

Purpose Of The Mouth

Before getting into the parts of the mouth, it is important to understand the mouth’s function. The mouth serves primarily two purposes. The first is communication and the second is eating and digestion. Both are rather complicated processes.

parts of the mouth

Communication

In order for communication to be possible, a myriad of occurrences needs to happen. Sound begins in the throat with air running through the vocal cords. The cords vibrate, creating sound. Once the sound is created, it runs up through the throat and into the mouth, where it is shaped into words by the tongue and the lips.

Digestion

The second purpose that the mouth provides is aiding in digestion. When food enters the mouth it is broken down by the teeth and dampened with saliva. The tongue helps the food move to the back of the throat towards the stomach and also allows people to taste their food. After the food leaves the mouth, the rest of the body works on turning the food into energy.

Parts Of The Mouth

The parts of the mouth consist of the tongue, the teeth, the lips, the mouth cavity, the gums, the salivary glands, the vestibule, and the hard and soft palates. Each of the parts serves a different purpose for the body.

  1. Tongue- The tongue is made up of muscle tissue and is an integral part of tasting, swallowing, and speaking.
  2. Teeth- The average person has two sets of teeth in their lifetime; a set of baby teeth and a set of adult teeth. Teeth are used to chew food, making them the first step in digestion.
  3. Lips- The lips are the outside part of the mouth that protects the inner cavity.
  4. Mouth Cavity- The mouth cavity is the empty space within the mouth that is surrounded on the sides by the walls of the mouth (gums) and the roof and floor of the mouth (hard and soft palates and the tongue)
  5. Gums- The gums include tissue that surrounds teeth to keep them in place.
  6. Salivary glands- Located in many parts of the mouth, the salivary glands produce liquid to keep the mouth moist and help break down food.
  7. Vestibule- The vestibule connects the gums to the rest of the mouth. The vestibule is what makes up the walls of the mouth on the insides of your cheeks and contains the salivary glands.
  8. Hard and Soft Palates- The palates are both located at the top of the mouth. The hard palate is the bone structure that keeps the mouth together and the soft palate is the membranes and tissue that lies below it, in between your teeth and throat.

Contact Us For Oral Health Care Services

We at Hendersonville Family Dental are passionate about helping our customers achieve their most bright smiles and healthiest mouths. We offer a variety of oral health care services that are aimed to help our customs feel healthy, beautiful, and happy. Our talented and experienced dentists and hygienists will do all that they can to ensure that you and your family feel comfortable and taken care of. For more information about oral health care or to schedule an appointment with our office, feel free to reach out to us today.

There are many symptoms that may be indications that you need a root canal. Root canals are procedures that are done to try and save a tooth that has been damaged. Specifically, root canals are used when a tooth’s tooth pulp (also called a tooth’s nerve) gets exposed to bacteria and becomes inflamed as a result. The purpose of a root canal is to remove the infection from the tooth and protect it from further microbial contamination. 

While many root canal recipients tend to have many of the same symptoms leading up to their procedure, the best way to be sure that you need a root canal is to visit your dentist. Your dentist will be able to tell you whether you need a root canal, an extraction, or some other procedure. The following are common symptoms of tooth damage that may require a root canal.

you need a root canal

1) Chronic Tooth Pain

One of the most common symptoms of tooth pulp damage is chronic tooth pain. If your tooth is constantly hurting or has been hurting on and off for a long period of time, this could be an indication of nerve damage. The pain can come from deep in your jaw or radiate from your teeth’s roots. Chronic pain in your teeth can also be attributed to other tooth issues including gum disease or cavities. Visiting the dentist will help to decipher what the exact problem is with your teeth.

2) Tooth Discoloration

Another common symptom of tooth nerve inflammation is tooth discoloration. While tooth discoloration may have other causes, a disintegration of the root tissue can cause a tooth to turn a grayish-black color. If there is an infection of the tooth, blood supply to the tooth can dwindle causing discoloration.

3) A Recent Cracked Tooth

If you have recently had a cracked, broken, or chipped tooth due to sports or some other type of accident, you may be in need of a root canal. If your tooth was not properly taken care of after the injury, then bacteria could have settled into the cracks, causing an infection. Even if the tooth did not crack on impact, it is important to have it checked out because the nerve could become inflamed. It is so important to get your teeth checked out if you have had a recent blow to your mouth.

4) Sensitivity

If your tooth is extremely sensitive to hot or cold foods, that may be an indication that you need a root canal. When your mouth comes in contact with different temperatures of foods, your mouth could experience a sharp or dull pain. If the pain persists even after you have stopped eating and drinking, you could be in need of a root canal.

5) Loose Tooth

It is normal to have loose teeth as a grade school student, as their adult teeth are growing in. However, if an adult is experiencing tooth mobility, that could be an indication of tooth nerve damage. If more than one tooth is loose, there is likely a different cause besides tooth pulp inflammation. 

Do You Need A Root Canal?

If you have read this article and realized that you may be in need of a root canal, then it is important to get in touch with a dentist. We at Hendersonville Family Dentist offer quality services and specialize in providing root canal options. We have an experienced and knowledgeable team who would be more than happy to help you with your issue.  For more information about our services or to schedule an appointment, feel free to reach out to us today.

Location & Hours

Hendersonville Family Dental

1139 Greenville Hwy A,
Hendersonville, NC 28792

828-222-7878
Monday 7:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Tuesday 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Wednesday 7:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Thursday 7:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Friday 7:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Saturday Closed
Sunday Closed

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