Oral Health Terminology

noun a type of soft candy that is chewed instead of swallowed

verb present participle of the action of chewing gum

• Chewing gum is often used as a means to freshen one's breath.
• Hey, do you have any chewing gum I can borrow?
• I always pop a piece of chewing gum before going out to meet my friends.
• Her words were like chewing gum, sticking in my mind long after she had spoken.

noun a ring-like muscle that normally maintains constriction of a natural body passage or orifice and that relaxes as required by normal physiological functioning

• The sphincter muscle plays a crucial role in controlling the release of waste from the body.
• I heard that if you have a weak sphincter, you might have trouble holding in gas.
• Dude, I think I strained my sphincter trying to lift that heavy box.
• His sphincter tightened with fear as he approached the edge of the cliff.

adjective describing something that does not contain sugar

• The bakery offers a variety of sugarless pastries for customers with dietary restrictions.
• I bought some sugarless gum to freshen my breath.
• I can't stand the taste of sugarless soda.
• His jokes were as sugarless as a bland dessert.

noun a rare infectious bacterial disease that typically affects the face and neck

• Actinomycosis is a rare bacterial infection that can affect the face, neck, chest, and abdomen.
• I heard that actinomycosis is a really uncommon infection that can happen in different parts of the body.
• Have you ever dealt with actinomycosis? It's no joke.
• Actinomycosis is like a stealthy intruder, silently causing trouble in the body.