Importance of Chewing Food Properly: It’s true that what and how one eats decides one’s overall health and appearance. Still, most people fail to practice healthy eating. In a modern busy world, many individuals rush through their meals. They do not chew their food properly or simply swallow what they have in their mouth with different liquids. Due to unhealthy eating or failure to chew food well, they may have to suffer serious repercussions.     

Simply chewing food properly can help people accomplish the right response of their bodies to ingested food. In this blog the dental implant surgeon in Chicago at EON Clinics will discuss the Importance of Chewing Food Properly and other factors.

Chewing and its Relation With Human Digestion

The first part of the human digestive system is the mouth. Inside the mouth, the physical act of digesting food (i.e. chewing) begins.

The actual act of chewing is solely possible with help of teeth, tongue, and salivary glands. Teeth help in the mastication of food- the mechanical grinding of consumed food into smaller, manageable bites. The tongue manipulates the food inside the mouth to ensure it’s finely chewed before it’s swallowed.

The breakdown of large, complex food into finer, simpler food particles increases the surface area for saliva to work. Saliva contains various digestive enzymes that act on ingested food. It helps obtain simpler vital nutrients that the intestines absorb to help with natural biological processes. Perhaps, that’s one of the main reasons behind the need to chew food an appropriate number of times.            

Why Don’t People Chew Their Food Well?

Many individuals are unable to effectively chew their food because of the following reasons:

• Missing teeth or malocclusions (bite issues)- It’s just people don’t feel right about this. They find eating quickly an easy way out.
• Stress and impatience- Impatient or stressed people tend to eat food in a hurry. Also, stress hampers blood flow to the digestive tract which further affects nutrient absorption.   
• Worn-out tooth- An irregularly shaped or damaged tooth is not an effective masticatory tool.
• Mouth breathing- While chewing on food, nose breathing takes place. For blocked noses, mouth breathing is a rescue. It’s difficult to slowly chew food while breathing through the mouth. In such cases, people quickly eat a mouthful of food so that they can breathe.
• Clicking jaw joints or temporomandibular joint disorders- People with such issues chew food hastily to avoid tiring their jaw joints and experience associated discomfort.

Importance of Chewing Food Properly

Good chewing and digestion are beneficial for one’s health and well-being. Chewing food properly makes the food tastier, and easier to swallow, and aids in better digestion and absorption. Here are some of the benefits of chewing food well:

• No digestive issues- If food is not thoroughly chewed, larger particles may easily enter the digestive tract. They can cause digestive problems such as bloating, gas, food reactions, constipation, headaches, and reduced energy levels. 
• Once the food is properly chewed, the salivary glands release digestive enzymes and the stomach produces hydrochloric acid, which assists digestion.

• Nourishment of gut lining- Chewing increases saliva production. The saliva has epithelial growth factor (EGF)- a polypeptide that encourages the growth and repair of epithelial tissue. More EGF helps nourish the gut.   

• Absorption of more nutrients and energy from food- If the food is completely broken down through chewing, the intestines can easily absorb a great amount of nutrients from food. Moreover, the digestion of properly chewed food requires less energy. 
• Maintenance of healthy body weight- Thorough chewing of food takes time. Thus, people finish their meals late. People who eat slowly tend to have good portion control.
• Generally, it takes about 20 minutes for the brain to send a signal to tell the stomach is full. So, slow eating means fewer chances of over-eating and prevention of obesity.    
• Prevention of dental issues- Chewing helps teeth stay healthy. It is a workout for natural jawbones to grow healthy and strong. Also, it promotes saliva production. Saliva helps in washing away food debris from the mouth and prevents bacteria build-up. Ultimately, it prevents dental caries and gum infection or disease.
• Cancer prevention- Saliva contains peroxidase enzyme which helps suppress carcinogens present in the food. Carcinogens are cancer-causing agents.
• Speech development- Chewing action helps in the workout of muscles around the mouth. It helps in the healthy development of the jaw. This allows people to have clear speech and a more expressive face.
• Improvement in mental health- Chewing increases blood flow into the brain and stimulates the brain. It helps develop the child’s intelligence and prevent memory loss among grown-ups. As the brain receives the proper amount of blood, it starts functioning better.

The body receives full power to enable better concentration at work or play.

Tips to Help Chew Food Thoroughly

• Don’t eat hurriedly. Chew every bite of food about 32 times and enjoy its taste.
• Avoid having drinks to gulp down food inside the mouth.
• Have smaller morsels. With smaller bites, thorough chewing gets much easier and better.   
• While eating, keep the ambiance relaxed and not distractive. It’s a bad habit to eat food while watching TV or doing any physical activity.
• Stop chewing food only when the food has turned mushy or totally liquid and has lost its texture.
• Take another bite only after finishing the complete chewing and swallowing of the mouthful.
• Avoid drinking any fluids between meals or 15 minutes before having a meal. It’s allowed to sip a small amount if needed. It’s best to have drinks 30 minutes before or after the meal. This way the stomach gets enough time and space to absorb nutrients digested from the meal.   
• Sit down in a comfortable position to eat food and smell the food to activate the salivary glands.
• A moment before eating, take 10 deep breaths. This allows the body to switch into the right state for healthy, better digestion.

How Can EON Clinics Help?

If you have lost teeth and are unable to chew your food properly, consult EON Clinics dentists. They can help you restore your normal teeth functioning with top-quality, affordable dental implants. EON Clinics has highly experienced dentists in Chicago to serve you the best. To know more on the importance of chewing food properly and how it has health benefits on the overall body contact the dental expert near you today!