Thanksgiving came and went, but many people still have a little turkey left over for delicious sandwiches. People throughout the country devoured food over the holiday and probably consumed that food with the help of their teeth. Taking care of teeth is certainly important around the holiday season since people see an uptick in consumption sugary treats and starches. Turkeys don’t eat their food in quite the same way as humans. The dentists from Riverside Dental Group discuss how turkeys chew without teeth.
Bird Time
The avian digestive system operates quite differently from our human digestive system. For starters, we typically do not begin the digestive process by breaking our food into a paste. The turkey uses strong saliva to break down their food before sending food down into their stomach. Strong stomach acids continue the digestive process. Finally, the turkey stomach sends their food through the intestinal system for nutrient extraction. Humans can’t use our saliva alone to convert large food items into a paste. Humans benefit greatly from teeth, especially when consuming hard fruits and vegetables or tough meats.











Recent Comments