To chew food or mix food with saliva is to what term?

To chew food or mix food with saliva is to what term?

• A. Masticate
• B. Mastication
• C. Chew
• D. Grind

Answer: (A)

The action of chewing food and mixing it with saliva is described by the verb masticate. In dental terminology, masticate refers to the act of chewing to break down food and blend it with saliva in preparation for swallowing. The noun form is mastication, naming the process itself. While “chew” is the common everyday word, masticate is the precise term used in clinical and anatomical contexts. “Grind” implies a stronger or finer reduction without necessarily involving saliva or the typical chewing action, so it isn’t the right term for this description.

The action of chewing food and mixing it with saliva is described by the verb masticate. In dental terminology, masticate refers to the act of chewing to break down food and blend it with saliva in preparation for swallowing. The noun form is mastication, naming the process itself. While “chew” is the common everyday word, masticate is the precise term used in clinical and anatomical contexts. “Grind” implies a stronger or finer reduction without necessarily involving saliva or the typical chewing action, so it isn’t the right term for this description.