Toothspot - All About Teeth

Tongue Anatomy      The inside of your mouth is covered by a delicate lining of mucous membrane. It is kept moist and lubricated by saliva, which is produced in three pairs of salivary glands in your mouth. These are the sublingual glands located under your tongue, the submandibular glands located in the floor of your mouth, and the parotid glands located above the angle of your jaw. Your tongue is composed of a complex system of muscles that enable it to move food around as you chew. The surface of your tongue is covered with hair-like projections called papillae with groups of tastebuds arranged in clusters around them. Your tastebuds can distinguish four main types of flavors: sweet, salty, sour, and bitter. The majority of disorders affecting the mouth and tongue are not serious and are easy to treat. However, because it is possible for malignancies to form there, you should consult your physician or dentist of any condition persisting for more than two weeks.  We'r

Dental Dictionary Watch your dentist hit the floor by dropping in some 'dental lingo' the next time you go in for a visit! ABSCESS -  a local infection. A  Severe decay, periodontal disease, or trauma are causative  factors. It is characterized by swelling and pain. If an abscess ruptures, it  will be accompanied by sudden relief from pain due to a reduction in pressure. A  foul taste may also be noticed. ABUTMENT - a term used to denote  the teeth on either side of a missing tooth. ACRYLIC RESIN - the  plastic widely used in dentistry to make dentures. ACTIVE ERUPTION - the emergence of the tooth from its position in the jaw. ADHESION - the sticking together of unlike substances ADJUSTMENT - a modification made upon a dental prosthesis after  it has been completed and inserted into the mouth. AEROBIC BACTERIA - bacteria which grow in oxygen rich environments; in the oral cavity the  bacteria are found outside the sulcus. AFFERENT - nerves that  carry sensory me