We use our tongues all the time to eat, talk, and swallow. Food just wouldn’t be the same without a working tongue, but have you ever thought about how this amazing organ does what it does? We’re going to share some of the most interesting facts about your tongue!
- The average tongue is about 3 inches long and men typically have slightly longer tongues than women. The tongue is measured from epiglottis (a flap of cartilage in the mouth at the back of the tongue) to the tip.
- Most adults have around 10,000 taste buds and they renew themselves each week!
- Every person’s tongue is unique and similar to fingerprints. Some see the potential for the tongue to act as an identity verification tool.
- The tongue is the only muscle in human body that works without any support from the skeleton. Yes! It is known as muscular hydrostat.
- The tongue is not the only place where taste buds live. Taste buds can also be found on the inside of our cheeks, on lips, on the roof of our mouth and even under the tongue.
- Our tongue has a very unique property. It is incapable of detecting taste if it is dry. This means that if you place a piece of lemon on a dry tongue, you will not be able to tell that it is sour. The tongue gets its ability to sense taste only in the presence of saliva that keeps it moist.
- The color of the tongue can tell a lot about a person’s health. Here are some color indications about health: Pink Tongue = Good Health; White Tongue = Fungal Infection and Yellow Tongue = Stomach Problem or Fever.
- About 2/3rd of the tongue is visible and the remaining 1/3rd is not visible. The part that is not visible is close to the throat.
- In Tibet, you can stick your tongue out at others. It will not be considered rude or childish. In Tibet, it is actually a greeting.
- The tongue has eight muscles!
We hope you enjoyed learning these neat facts! This can be the topic of conversation at your next get together with friends. We bet you’ll surprise them with all this cool information! Don’t forget to brush your tongue every time you brush your teeth!! 😉
