The tongue is a muscle-based organ that sits against the floor of the mouth and goes back into the pharynx. It’s attached to the jaw, the hyoid bone in the neck, and the skull, extending back further than what’s visible inside the mouth.
The tongue is an organ that humans, and many other animals, use to help them chew and swallow food. Moving your tongue against your palate and your teeth is also vital for your ability to speak.
The outer covering of the tongue consists of a wet mucosa. The top part contains tiny papillae, the small dots that provide the tongue with its rough texture. These papillae contain taste buds that let you taste food.
A human tongue can have 2,000-8,000 taste buds, which are classified into three types. These taste buds contain cells that activate in order to detect different flavors. Depending on their function, taste buds are shaped differently and located on different areas of the tongue.
Many tongue problems often aren’t serious. But sometimes, your symptoms might occur due to an underlying condition that requires medical treatment.
You can prevent many tongue problems by practicing good oral hygiene. If you’re already experiencing tongue problems, some simple home remedies may help relieve your symptoms.
In this article, we’ll go over possible problems with the tongue. We’ll also look at causes, diagnosis, and how to care for these problems at home.
