How does your mouth contribute to the process of digestion?

The mouth is the beginning of the digestive tract; and, in fact, digestion starts here when taking the first bite of food. Chewing breaks the food into pieces that are more easily digested, while saliva mixes with food to begin the process of breaking it down into a form your body can absorb and use. read more

It contains substances including enzymes that begin the process of breaking down food into a form your body can absorb and use. Chew your food more -- it also helps with your digestion. Stop 2: The Pharynx and Esophagus. Also called the throat, the pharynx is the portion of the digestive tract that receives the food from your mouth. read more

The process of digestion begins in your mouth. The salivary glands start to function as soon as you take the first bite of food. There are three large salivary glands and numerous smaller ones located in your mouth and throat. The larger salivary glands occur in pairs and are located on either side of your mouth. read more