Our tongues are used constantly to talk, eat and swallow. Food would not have the same flavor without a functioning tongue But have you thought about how this wonderful organ functions? We’ve done, and now we’ll share some fascinating information about your tongue.
The tongue’s length is measured from the epiglottis (a flap of cartilage inside the mouth, located in the tongue’s rear) to the tongue’s end. A man’s average tongue size is 3.3 inches (8.5 cm), and a woman’s average tongue size of 3.1 inches (7.9 cm).
According to Guinness World Records, the current title of World’s Longest Tongue belongs to an American named Nick Stoeberl, whose tongue measures 3.97 inches (10.1 centimeters).
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Facts About The Tongue
- The tongue length between the rear and the end is 3 inches long.
- Eight muscles compose the human tongue.
- Your tongue is home to between 3000 and 10,000 taste buds that aren’t visible to the human eye.
- The typical lifespan of a tastebud is two weeks.
- There are five types of flavor buds. They are salty, sweet, bitter, sour, and the savory (umami)
- Your tongue is never idle. Even when you’re asleep.
- It is one of the largest flexible muscles in your body.
- Your tongue needs moisture to taste
- Your tongue makes words into sounds
- Your tongue prints of yours are as distinct as your fingerprint.
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Tongue Functions
Speech Tongue moves translate sounds into comprehensible words.
Taste Tongue and the nose collaborate to assist us in tasting food.
Take a bite. Your tongue muscles help move food through your mouth when you chew.
Digestive muscles in your tongue propel the food you chew into your stomach (food pipe in your throat) and then down into your stomach to aid digestion.
Breastfeeding The tongue allows the infant to drink milk from their mother’s breast.
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Tongue Anatomy 101
Taste buds are sensory organs that allow us to taste sweet, salty, savory-sweet, bitter, and even sour food.
The papillae are prominent bumps with raised edges on the tongue’s surface.
Microvilli are extremely sensitive microscopic hairs that signal our brain concerning the taste of food items.
Septum visible central groove that divides the tongue into the left and right half.
The Frenulum is the membranous tissue that connects your tongue and the lower part of your mouth.
Sublingual caruncles are bumps that occur bilaterally on either side of the frenulum which secretes saliva into the mouth.
Tongue Care
The tongue’s surface is uneven, and if it’s not kept clean, can harbor bacteria that result in an unpleasant breath and inflammation.
The tongue is home to over 300 bacteria strains that constantly ferment and produce the formation of a thin film that covers the tongue’s surface. The foods and drinks that have been known to cause tooth discoloration to alter the hue of the film
On the tongue, until it is it is completely cleaned.
The tongue cleaning or scraper is better than the use of a toothbrush. In contrast to teeth that have smooth surfaces, the tongue’s surface can be bumpy.
The edge is swollen and rippled to reach the tongue’s crevices.
The use of a tongue scraper cleanses your tongue has been confirmed to reduce the risk of heart attacks, pneumonia, diabetes, and premature death.
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How to wash your tongue
Step One Step One: Extend your tongue
Extending your tongue will allow you to cleanse the tongue as much as possible without causing gaging.
Step 2 You can scrape or brush your tongue
Use a gentle scrape or brush to clean your tongue from your back towards the front with small strokes similar to those used with the garden rake.
Step 3 Rinse your mouth
Cleanse the mouth for 30 secs using an alcohol-free mouthwash to eliminate any remaining and circulating debris.
Repeat 2 times daily
Tongue Piercing Facts
Many people opt to have their tongues punctured for various reasons, but most of them are to express themselves.
Despite the apparent popularity that it has, piercing your tongue can be extremely risky. A tongue piercing can create tiny holes inside your tongue. This can develop into a fatal infection or blood loss and/or permanent injury.
The piercings of the mouth and tongue can:
- Make it harder to pronounce or speak words
- Can affect the strength and integrity of the adjacent tooth enamel.
- Harbor bacteria can increase your risk of developing gum disease or a systemic infection
- Alter your capacity to chew and chew food correctly
- Cause an allergy reaction against the material contained in the jewelry
*Note that the American Dental Association advises against piercing your mouth because of the inherent dangers of tetanus infection, the possibility of swelling that can hinder breathing capacity as well as the risk of a higher incidence of endocarditis (life risky condition in which bacteria that cause harm enter the bloodstream, causing damage to your cardiovascular system).
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Care for the tongue with a pierced
If you opt to have your tongue pierced it is crucial to ensure that your dental care is thorough to prevent the spread of infection and to ensure that you keep regular dental cleaning appointments as suggested by your dental professional.
- It is advised to take off your piercings before sleeping to prevent the accidental consumption of jewelry and minimize the build-up of bacteria in the jewelry.
Tongue Disease & Conditions
A tongue-tied short sleeve that restricts tongue movement
frequently causing speech impairment.
The tongue is fissured benign condition where the tongue has deep irregularly shaped grooves on the visible top of the tongue.
Geotongue is mild patches of red and irregular designs visible on top of the tongue.
The reason is not known.
Thrush is a painful fungal infection that can be found in individuals.
people who have a compromised immune system.
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The burning or tingly sensation can result from having a dry mouth due to a lower salivary secretion from salivary glands.
The black Hairy Tongue is a distinct discoloration of the tongue papillae.
Sleep Apnea is a condition where the tongue falls to block the airway, interrupting breathing while asleep.
