Where does digestion start?

Although it seems logical that digestion begins in our mouth this is actually incorrect. Digestion begins before food even enters our mouth. The sight, smell, and thought of food starts the digestive process. For example, when we think about our favourite meal or walk past the entrance of a shop and we smell something delicious and our mouth starts watering – that is our digestive process beginning – its our body getting ready to receive food.

Saliva that is produced in our mouth during this process and when we eat contains 98% water, but also lots of other important other things, including electrolytes (sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, bicarbonate, and phosphates), mucus, antibacterial compounds and enzymes (molecule that helps to break things down). The main enzyme in saliva called amylase and this enzyme starts to break down carbohydrates (sugars).

Not only do we have the chemical break down of food in our mouth, as described above but we also have the mechanical breakdown of the food as we chew it and mush it up with our teeth and tongue. This chewing action breaks down the food whilst mixing it in with the saliva to help create a ball of food (aka bolus) which can then be easily swallowed. The action of chewing also helps to signal to the stomach that food is coming so it produces stomach acid in preparation.

So once we have thoroughly chewed our food and shaped it into a food ball in our mouth our tongue helps to push it to the back of our mouth so we can swallow it and it enters the next section of our digestive tract; our oesophagus.  

Can IBD impact the mouth?

IBD can have an impact on our mouth. Although less common, oral Crohn’s causes ulcers in and around the mouth. Statistics suggest that anywhere between 20% and 50% of people with IBD will experience mouth ulcers. Personally, I experienced mouth ulcers a lot during flares of my UC and they are very painful! Having ulcers can disrupt our digestion as it may cause us to avoid food or chew less thoroughly to get the food out of our mouth as quickly as possible.  

That’s all for today but next week I’ll be looking at our oesophagus, its role in our digestive system and how IBD can impact it.  

If you’re interested in learning more now, I wrote an article about chewing and mindful eating, discussing why HOW we eat is as important as WHAT we eat. I also included some useful tips in there to help you support your digestion which you can find by clicking here.

I have written a free e-book to help you find a way forward for your everyday life with Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Whether you are right at the beginning of your journey with IBD or have been living with your condition for years and feel like you have tried almost everything, there are things you can do everyday, beyond the medication you are taking, to help you take back control.

Disclaimer: All content found on the nalmclinic.com website, including: text, video, or other formats have been created for informational purposes only. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor, consultant or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.

We are all wonderfully unique and what works for one person may not work for another so please seek help and advice before changing your diet to work out the right way forward for you.