10 Reasons Your Tongue is an Amazing Organ

As your dentist, we’re used to getting up close and personal with your tongue. And believe it or not, your tongue does play a big role in your dental care. It’s layered with the same bacteria that cause tooth decay and gum disease. That’s why we recommend you also brush your tongue whenever you brush your teeth.

In fact, the tongue is actually a pretty amazing organ — and most people take it for granted. Check out these 10 amazing tongue facts that will blow your mind.

Your Tongue is About 3 Inches Long

You measure your tongue from that back flap of cartilage at the back of the tongue to the tip of your tongue. The average male tongue is 3.3 inches (8.5 cm); the average female tongue length is 3.1 inches (7.9 cm).

And the world record for the longest tongue goes to Nick Stoeberl, an American whose tongue measures 3.97 inches (10.1 cm), according to the Guinness World Records.

What animal has the largest tongue? The blue whale – its tongue weighs around 2.7 metric tons.

Your Taste Buds are Invisible

Your taste buds are invisible to the naked eye. Contrary to popular belief, those little bumps on your tongue aren’t taste buds. These are actually hair-like projections known as papillae. Your taste buds are microscopic and live on the ends of your papillae.

Your Tongue Has Thousands of Taste Buds

Adults on average have 2,000 to 4,000 taste buds. Some people have as many as 10,000 taste buds. Your taste buds continually die and regrow every 14 days.

And about a quarter of the population qualify as “Super Tasters,” people who have extremely sensitive taste. They are especially sensitive to bitter foods – specifically 6-n-propylthiouracil, a bitter tasting compound. Another quarter of the population is known as “non-tasters.” Despite the name, these people do still have a sense of taste, but it’s not as sensitive. Their tongues cannot sense the presence of PROP.

Your Taste Buds Taste Foods Equally

Contrary to popular belief, flavor is not sensed in different areas of your tongue — there are no hot, spicy, or sweet areas. Your taste buds actually taste flavors equally across the entire tongue.

Your Taste Buds Aren’t Just on Your Tongues

Tongues are important to our sense of taste, but you actually have taste buds on more than just your tongue. You have taste buds on the back of your throat, the flap of cartilage at the back of your tongue, and inside your throat. Younger children can even taste through the mucus on their lips and cheeks.

Your Tongue is Made of 8 Muscles

We think of our tongue as one muscle, but it’s actually 8 intertwined muscles that work a lot like an elephant’s trunk. Your tongue is actually known as a muscular hydrostat. Your tongue muscles are not attached to a bone. They are the only muscles in your body that are like this.

We Pay Attention to the Color of Your Tongue

During your dental appointment, your dentist will pay close attention to the color of your tongue. The color of your tongue can tell us a lot about your health. Pink tongues are healthy. Allergies and infections can turn tongues red. White patches could be an indication of a fungal infection. A smooth tongue could be a sign that you’re deficient of essential minerals like folic acid, iron and vitamin B12.

You Can Learn to Roll Your Tongue

Being able to roll your tongue can be a genetic gift, but it’s also a talent you can learn. The ability to roll your tongue is actually a combination of genes and the environment.

Your Tongue Can Get Fat

If you put on weight, your tongue fattens up too. The human tongue actually contains a good degree of fat tissue. In fact, science has found a connection between high tongue fat and obesity. ]A fat tongue is actually bad for your health. Having a fatter tongue increases your risk for sleep apnea, which can disrupt your breathing while sleeping, according to a study published in Science Daily.

Tongue Prints are Unique Like Fingerprints

Like your fingerprint, the pattern on your tongue is unique. In fact, some people think the tongue could serve as an identity verification tool. Researchers are looking to develop methods to use tongues for biometric authentication to authentically identify a person. Your tongue is stuck in the mouth, difficult to forge, and you can just stick it out for examination.