You might not have thought about it before, but you may want to know how you are able to chew your foods without biting the inside of your cheeks. A little attention will let you know about the presence of a muscle that keeps your cheeks away from your teeth when you chew your foods. This muscle is known as the buccinator muscle.

Location of the buccinator muscle

To locate this muscle, you will need to open your mouth. Now, place your hand on the hollow area between your upper and lower jaw. It is the buccinator muscle you are touching. According to the Anatomy and Physiology, a majority of walls of the cheek is formed by the buccinator muscle. This muscle lies between the outer skin and the mucous membrane. There are also various glands present between the buccinator muscle and the mucous membrane. Ducts of these glands open at the back of the mouth.

What does the buccinator muscle do?

There are various functions that a buccinator muscle can perform, including helping you to chew your foods and forming different facial expressions. The most crucial function of these muscles is that they aid chewing by keeping inner cheeks at a safe distance from teeth. This way, you won’t bite your cheeks as you eat. This muscle works with masseter, medial pterygoid, lateral pterygoid muscles, and temporalis when you move your jaw while eating or speaking.

Buccinator muscles also control airflow through your mouth. It’s buccinator muscle that allows you to suck and blow air and whistle.

Buccinator muscles work with other facial muscles to develop facial expressions, allowing you to communicate nonverbally. These muscles also help you to form a smile. They, however, do not work alone. Muscles that work to develop facial expressions include the orbicularis oris and the zygomaticus major and minor.

Problems that can occur with buccinator muscles

Problems can develop in buccinator muscles just as they can occur in any other facial muscles. When it happens, it can cause several problems such as inner cheeks coming between the teeth as you chew your foods and overall discomfort. You may want to get in contact with your dentist or doctor to know the real cause of problems in your buccinator or other facial muscles.

Problems that can result in a nonfunctional buccinator muscle usually cause impairment of the facial nerve. These problems include Bells Palsy and stroke. Both these problems paralyze the buccinator muscle, causing it to stop functioning.

You may want to discuss treatment options with your dentist or doctor. In some cases, when these muscles are partially paralyzed, you may be able to treat the problem by massaging the area. Your doctor will tell you about the exercises and massages that you can perform to reactivate these vital muscles.

It is worth noting that you will be chewing your inner cheeks and unable to blow out or suck in the air if your buccinator muscles do not work. There is a lot to convey from facial expressions. Without buccinator muscles, you will remain expressionless.