5 Facts About Your Tongue

We talk a lot about your teeth and gums, but what about your tongue! In today’s post, we’re giving you five facts about your tongue that we think you’ll find pretty interesting.

1. Long in the Tongue

How long do you think your tongue is? The average tongue is 3 inches long. The longest, according to the Guiness Book of World Records, is just under 4 inches long.

2. Tastebuds

Our tongues are covered in taste buds. 2,000 to 4,000 total, to be exact. You might have thought that the bumps on your tongue are your tastebuds, but you can’t actually see them. Those bumps are called papillae, and your taste buds are contained within them. Each holds around six taste buds.

3. Your Tongue’s Muscles

Everyone has heard that your tongue is the strongest muscle in your body. Well, it’s not! In fact, it’s not a muscle. Your tongue is made up of 8 different muscles that are intertwined. So, while they may not be one, super-strong muscle, the tongue is strong and flexible. Think about it this way, with all that talking, eating, and moving around, does your tongue ever get tired?

4. Tongue Prints

Just like your fingerprint, your tongue contains a pattern that is entirely unique to you. While you probably won’t be unlocking your smartphone using your tongue anytime soon, tongue prints may be used for identification sometime in the future.

5. A Healthy Tongue

Your tongue can actually tell you something about your dental and overall health, and it deserves its own TLC, too! For example, discoloration and/or white or painful bumps can be a sign of something going on with your health. It’s always a good idea to inspect your tongue regularly and report anything unusual to your dentist.

Preventative Care in San Antonio, Texas

Take care of your tongue, your teeth, your whole mouth, with our help! Here at Chandler Dental Center, we believe that preventative dental care is the key to dental health in the long term. Give us a call or visit our website today to get set up with your next visit!

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Categorised in: Oral Health, Preventative Dentistry

This post was written by ChandlerDentalCenter