What is the process of chewing with the teeth called?

Mastication refers specifically to the physical act of chewing food with the teeth. This process involves the grinding and breaking down of food into smaller pieces, which makes it easier to swallow and digest. Chewing is a critical first step in digestion, as it increases the surface area of the food and mixes it with saliva, beginning the enzymatic breakdown of carbohydrates.

The other terms mentioned refer to different stages of processing food. Digestion encompasses all processes that lead to the breakdown of food for absorption by the body, which includes both mechanical processes like mastication and chemical processes that occur later in the digestive tract. Ingestion refers to the act of taking in food through the mouth, while deglutition refers to the act of swallowing, which occurs after mastication has taken place. Thus, mastication is specifically focused on the chewing action, distinguishing it from these broader or subsequent processes.