The incredible mouth and its incredible uses

MANILA, Philippines — If you think all your mouth is good for is eating and drinking, then think again. As we’ve previously uncovered (READ: Why your mouth matters more than you think), the mouth is not just the gateway to our bodies but also our bridge of communication and intimacy with others.   

In fact, so many incredible things can be achieved with the mouth —and we’re not just talking about kissing (although, that’s a valid achievement in itself)! Think of some of the most powerful, endearing and inspiring statements given by memorable individuals. “The Filipino is worth dying for” is a short and brief line, but its impact on the Filipino people can never really be measured. There’s no denying the potency of a well-articulated and heartfelt verse at just the right moment. And it’s all thanks to the human capacity for speech as made possible by the mouth. 

Now, forgive the comical injection, but can you imagine if Benigno S. Aquino, Jr., had a cold or a bad toothache while delivering that line? Perhaps we would remember that line a little differently if the crowd had to lean in to hear what he said, or if he had to repeat himself. Some of the impact would have been lost if his humble audience thought to themselves, “What did he just say?”  

Kidding aside, the mouth truly is an incredible vessel. So many things have been achieved through the mouth, and not just through words that have been spoken — everything from mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to discovering a whole world of tastes. There are even world records for its achievements.  

So to celebrate the amazing body part that is our mouth, we’ve created a list of some of the coolest mouth achievements in history. Hopefully, these will inspire you not to take it for granted and protect it from harm.— Rappler.com