We all know it’s important to always remember to brush your teeth, but did you also know that it’s good for you to chew what you eat longer? By not chewing food enough, people can affect their health and oral fitness. Properly chewing what you eat is key in things like digestion, mouth health, and losing weight. By chewing your food 30 to 50 times, you can not only be more mindful in general, but also help your overall health.
When you take care of your mouth, then your whole body can benefit. That starts with what and how you decide to eat. At Burlingame Dental Arts, our Doctors care about your complete health, not just your teeth. Here are some different ways that improve your health through the simple act of chewing your food more.
It Aids Digestion
It may seem obvious, but all the digestion in you body starts with chewing. By chewing food, your body senses the nourishment coming in and singles the digestive track. When we chew food longer, the enzymes, vitamins, and nutrients are broken down better, which help your body. This allows all those good things faster entry into the blood system.
Rallies Your Oral Health
By properly chewing your food for a longer period of time it can create saliva in your mouth. Saliva is very beneficial to your oral health, as it can behave like a mouthwash and removes bit of food and bacteria that are known to cause cavities. The more you chew, the more saliva you produce. The salivary glands, which produce saliva, are located inside your cheeks by your jawbone in the lower part of your mouth.
Sends a Signal
The chewing of food also lets your digestive track know when it is supposed to do its job. The act of chewing sends a message to start digestion through signaling the pancreas, which is a glandular organ in our digestive system. The pancreas is full of digestive enzymes that help with the absorption of nutrients. These enzymes help to also break down carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids. It has also been found that people who eat more slowly, simply eat less. This is great for those trying to lose weight. When you chew, a dispatch is sent from the brain to signal that you are becoming full. If you eat too fast, you may inhale many more calories then you really need, leading to weight gain
Protein Power
As may know, food is full of proteins, and these can help the body construct and repair damaged cells. Proteins also aid in the digestion, as they help break down acids which assist in repairing those injured cells. If you don’t chew your food for very long, it can harm those digestive proteins.
If you have any questions about chewing and oral health, or for an appointment, contact us today.
