Question

Explain the role of mouth in the digestion of food.

Answer 1

Digestion in the mouth:

1. ​Digestion of food starts from the mouth due to presence of enzymes in the buccal cavity.
   
2. Saliva is secreted in the mouth from the salivary glands which contains the digestive enzyme salivary amylase.
   
3. Salivary amylase is responsible for digestion of carbohydrate in the food.
   
4. About 30% of the starch is converted to maltose inside the mouth due to the enzyme action.