State ONE role each of the following in digestion: i. Teeth ii. Tongue iii. Saliva – NABTEB QUESTION

i. Teeth:

Used for tearing or cutting, cracking or crushing and grinding or chewing of food.

ii. Tongue:

Used to turn/mix food; roll chewed food into a ball or bolus, press food against hard palate for swallowing and clean or clear food from the teeth and mouth.

iii. Saliva:

moistens food, softens food, adds water to food. Contains enzyme (amylase/ptyalin); Digests carbohydrate/starch to maltase. The mucus in saliva lubricates the food for easy swallowing. Saliva starts the digestion of boiled/roasted/baked/fried carbohydrate foods.