Doctors explain how bite and eating speed affect digestion

Chewing as the first stage of digestion

Digestion begins even before food reaches the stomach: teeth grind the food, saliva moistens it and starts the breakdown of carbohydrates with the help of the enzyme amylase. Gazeta.Ru was told about this by INVITRO gastroenterologist Olga Patyukova and Emeline Shevchuk, Director of Digital Diagnostics and Clinical Support at EUROKAPPA. According to Patyukova, the quality of chewing matters for further digestion, since the first stage takes place precisely in the oral cavity.

What changes when the bite is misaligned

With a misaligned bite, the teeth close unevenly, and some of them participate less effectively in chewing. Large pieces take longer to process in the gastrointestinal tract, which is why a feeling of heaviness or fullness may appear after eating, and gas formation may increase. With fast and inadequate chewing, a person swallows air more often, which, according to the gastroenterologist, may contribute to belching and episodes of reflux; in people with already diagnosed gastrointestinal diseases, chewing habits can additionally sustain unpleasant symptoms.

Who should be watched closely, and what about weight

The quality of chewing is affected by pronounced bite abnormalities, missing or damaged teeth, gum disease and uncomfortable dentures. Shevchuk noted that a person may not notice a decline in chewing efficiency for a long time: the dentoalveolar system adapts, and the person begins to chew on the other side or chooses softer foods. Eating speed and chewing quality are often linked: someone who has lunch in a few minutes makes fewer chewing movements and swallows food faster, which affects both the sensations after eating and the amount eaten. At the same time, according to Patyukova, the link between chewing and body weight cannot be considered direct — weight is influenced by the calorie content of the diet, physical activity, hormonal background and overall health. Special attention is required in situations where a person unintentionally loses weight against the background of gastrointestinal symptoms. People with gastrointestinal diseases, missing teeth and pronounced dental problems are in the group of heightened attention. One option for correcting the bite in adults, when indicated, is aligners — removable transparent trays. Earlier, on October 25, the same outlet reported that a doctor warned how a phone in one's hands affects a child's bite.