Chewing

The process by which food is torn and/or crushed by teeth. It's the first step of digestion. Through chewing, the food is made softer and warmer and the enzymes in saliva begin to break down carbohydrates in the food.

After chewing, the food (now called a bolus) is swallowed. It enters the esophagus and continues on to the stomach, where the next step of digestion occurs.

Chewing is not solely for feeding. For example, among humans, chewing gum or tobacco is common.

Some animals, called ruminants, chew food more than once.