nonmasticatory

Nonmasticatory refers to actions or processes that do not involve chewing. Chewing, or mastication, is the mechanical process of breaking down food in the mouth with the teeth. Therefore, anything nonmasticatory bypasses this initial stage of digestion.

Examples of nonmasticatory activities include drinking liquids, swallowing food that has already been liquefied or softened, or the administration of medication in forms that do not require chewing, such as injections or certain types of dissolvable tablets. In a biological context, nonmasticatory feeding can occur in organisms that have specialized methods for ingesting food, such as filter feeding or absorption.

The term is often used in medical or biological contexts to distinguish between different modes of feeding or substance intake. For instance, in infant nutrition, while some solids are introduced that require chewing, a significant portion of a young infant's diet is nonmasticatory, consisting of milk or formula. Similarly, in veterinary medicine, animals with dental issues or those recovering from surgery may be placed on a nonmasticatory diet. The concept is central to understanding how organisms process nutrients and how interventions can modify these processes.