Here I am sitting in front of the laptop and ready to write about something that turns out to be a post about “The tongue”: an ode or fable? I giggle at the screen. Mr. Esparragus would walk by and say with a smile that I’m crazy, but I’m home alone so I keep my giggles to myself . hehe 😉
Tongue-tastic!
Remember those days; licking a lollipop or making faces with your tongue? We all know that the tongue is a super cool muscle with a lot of hidden talents. Here are five facts about tongues that you probably didn’t know:
1. Tongue muscles work independently of the skeleton
No other muscle in the human body can do this! This makes them incredibly flexible, as it allows you to form sounds, whistle, move food around your mouth, swallow, and you can even use it to clean your teeth after eating.
It is a myth that the tongue is the strongest muscle. However, it is the most sensitive. Have you ever wondered why babies lick and chew on anything they can reach? It’s not just because of teething. Babies also use their utmost sensitive tongues to feel things and gain information about the world around them.
2. The tongue loves Taste Buds
Yum yum….Your taste buds are those precious receptors on your tongue that help you enjoy all of the delicious foods that you adore!
There between 2,000–10,000 taste buds that live on a person’s tongue. They even die off and regrow every few weeks. Each of those bumps on your tongue contains about 6 taste buds within its tissue.
3. Your tongue print is unique
How about unlocking your phone with your tongue print? – While it’s not currently an idea (but perhaps fun?) way to verify someone’s identity that could change in the future. Researchers are working on ways (link?) to use the tongue as a bio-metric authenticator, since it’s a reliable way to positively identify a person – Anyone else looking forward to swapping your passport for a “digital ice cream”?
4. Without your saliva, it’s hard to taste foods.
Before your tongue’s taste receptors can taste, saliva needs to moisten the food.
Prove it and try this quick experiment – All you need is a paper towel and dry food like nuts. Use the paper towel to dry off your tongue, and then eat the nut. Have a drink of water and repeat the experiment, this time letting your saliva do its job. What do you notice?
A note on this: salt dissolves quickly in moisture, you’ll typically taste salty things first.
5. Your tongue tells your story
Finally, your tongue can actually tell us a lot about your health. Issues like discoloration, spots, coating, and pain can all be indications that something is going on with your overall health.
This small little organ helps us to talk, taste, digest, and eat. When brushing, it’s important to keep your tongue clean to prevent bad breath and bacteria in your mouth. In Acton Town Dental Practice we love healthy smiles- that includes your tongue too! If you notice anything unusual happening on your tongue, give us a call to get it checked out.
Before bringing the curtain down….
Greetings from Tongue!
Is it a good headline for a postcard, right? There is a coastal village in the northwest Highlands of Scotland called Tongue. It owes its unusual name to the Vikings that once occupied the area, and is taken from the Norse word (old medieval Norwegian language) “Tunga” indicating the shape of the piece of land jutting out into the loch. I think medieval villages are the bee’s knees! I love to visit those places, full of intensity and charm.. I like to dream that once upon a time I was half a princess, half a warrior. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this post, and stay tuned! lots of love Amigos.
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