What enzyme breaks down food in the mouth?

The enzyme that breaks down food in the mouth is called salivary amylase.

Salivary amylase is an enzyme that is produced by the salivary glands and is present in saliva. It is responsible for the initial digestion of carbohydrates, specifically starch, in the mouth. When we chew food, salivary amylase mixes with the food and begins to break down the starch into smaller molecules, such as maltose and dextrins. This process is important because it helps to break down complex carbohydrates into simpler sugars that can be more easily absorbed by the body. However, the action of salivary amylase is limited as it is only active in the mouth and its activity is stopped once the food reaches the stomach, where the acidic environment deactivates it. The stomach then continues the process of digestion with other enzymes such as pepsin.