16 Fun Facts About The Tongue (You Likely Didn’t Know)

Have you ever been intrigued by one of the human body’s most fascinating muscles? The human tongue is one of the most impressive organs in the human body!

In this article, let’s dive into the most interesting tongue facts you’ll ever need to know! Are you feeling risky? Play this as a crazy game with your friends and see whose tongue is the longest/most bumpy/etc.!

Disclaimer: Please note that the content of this article is intended solely for informational and entertainment purposes. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

The Tongue is Like a Fingerprint

Did you know that everyone has a unique tongue print? Just like fingerprints, our tongues have special identifying marks.

If you are tired of reading, let me entertain you with this video explanation:

According to research^{1http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007%2F978-3-540-74549-5_122#page-1}, the top of our tongue has a unique geometric shape and physiological texture that could be used for verification. Cool, right?

I’m not sure if there will be tongue scanners at airports or if they will take your finger and tongue prints if you get arrested, but it could be coming to a police station near you.

The Bumps on Your Tongue Are Not Taste Buds

Those little bumps covering your tongue, often mistaken for taste buds, are called papillae. These small, raised bumps house your taste buds–the microscopic heroes for sending flavor signals to your brain.

They can be mushroom-shaped and are scattered across your tongue, containing several taste buds.

With an estimated 2,000 to 8,000 taste buds, which constantly renew themselves, your tongue is an essential part of a complex system that lets you enjoy every bite of your meals.

Tongue Rolling Isn’t Genetic

The ability to roll your tongue has long been thought of as a trait you inherit from your parents. But recent research shows it’s not all about genetics. Studies^{2https://udel.edu/~mcdonald/mythtongueroll.html} have found that there’s more to this quirky skill than just family genes. Environmental factors and the way you grow can also influence whether you can twist your tongue into a little tube.

So, if you can roll your tongue and your parents can’t, you’re not an oddity. This biology revelation shows us that our traits are often a mix of our genes and our surroundings, making us all the more unique.

BONUS: Play Some Tongue Games

Are you feeling funky? Here are some fun and educational games to play with your tongue (and with friends!).

1. Taste Sensation Challenge:

• How to Play:
  • Prepare foods with distinct tastes: sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami. Blindfold each participant and have them taste each item.
  • The challenge is to identify the taste category of each food item correctly.
• Why It’s Educational:
  • This game is a great way to learn about the different types of taste buds and how they contribute to our sense of taste.

2. Tongue Twister Tournament:

• How to Play:
  • Select a few challenging tongue twisters. Each participant attempts to say them as quickly and clearly as possible.
  • The one who can articulate the tongue twisters with the most minor mistakes in the shortest time wins.
• Why It’s Fun:
  • Tongue twisters are not just a linguistic challenge; they also demonstrate the agility and coordination of the tongue muscles.

3. Colorful Tongue Painting:

• How to Play:
  • Use safe, edible food coloring. Each participant paints their tongue a different color and then sticks it out for a hilarious photo.
  • The fun part is seeing how the coloring highlights the texture and features of the tongue.
• Why It’s Creative:
  • This game offers a visually amusing way to observe and discuss the unique characteristics of everyone’s tongues.

Incorporate these games into your gathering for an entertaining and educational experience. They’re perfect for breaking the ice and creating memorable moments with friends

Your Tongue is Your Health

How can you tell a lot about someone by their Instagram? Well, your tongue is pretty much the Instagram of your health. Peek into your mouth, and you have a live feed of what’s happening inside your body.

When your tongue is sporting that not-so-chic white coating, it’s not just embracing a new fashion trend. This could be a shout-out to revamping your oral hygiene routine or hinting at something more, like a fungal infection (yikes, right?).

What about colors?

• Bright red: This splash of color might seem like it’s just trying to stand out, but it could be signaling a vitamin B12 or folic acid deficiency, as noted in medical resources like WebMD.
• Yellow: A yellowish tinge on your tongue could indicate a buildup of bacteria or dead cells, often due to poor oral hygiene, smoking, or dry mouth. 
• White: A white coating or white spots on the tongue can point to a range of conditions. It can be associated with oral thrush, an overgrowth of yeast.

Now, if your tongue is looking a bit on the parched side, it might be playing the role of the hydration police, telling you to up your water intake. According to Healthline, a dry tongue is often a sign of dehydration.

“Cat’s Got Your Tongue” Origins

Have you ever heard the saying “cat got your tongue”? It is a common expression used when someone is reticent or at a loss for words.

Well, where did this expression come from? One theory suggests it originates from using a “cat-o’-nine-tails,” a type of whip used for punishment in the Royal Navy. The pain was so severe that it left the victims speechless.

Another theory links it to ancient Egyptian mythology, where liars’ tongues were cut out and fed to cats. Yikes!

A Tongue is Four Inches Long

The average human tongue measures around four inches from the back to the tip–roughly the length of a standard credit card. But like many things in nature, there’s a range. Some people might have a tongue that’s a bit shorter, while others could boast a few extra fractions of an inch.

Why does this matter? Well, the size and flexibility of your tongue play crucial roles in your ability to taste, chew, swallow, and speak. For instance, a more extended language can sometimes provide more excellent skills in speech, affecting how certain sounds are articulated.

Men Have Longer Tongues Than Women

In terms of variations, studies have shown that men generally have slightly longer tongues than women, though the difference is often by not much. According to research^{3https://meridian.allenpress.com/angle-orthodontist}, the average tongue length for men is about 3.3 inches when relaxed and around 3.1 inches for women.

Clean Tongue = Better Health

Without regular cleaning, bacteria can throw a party, leading to bad breath, a less-than-stellar taste experience, and even contribute to tooth decay and gum disease. Your tongue needs some love, too!

Imagine giving your tongue a daily spa treatment with a tongue scraper or toothbrush. Regular tongue cleaning is a game-changer for oral health, keeping your breath fresh and your taste buds on point.

The Human Tongue Has Eight Muscles

The human tongue has eight distinct muscles. This group includes four muscles that help with speech and swallowing and four that control their position in the mouth.

What’s fascinating about these muscles is their ability to work independently and together, allowing for a remarkable range of movements. This versatility is crucial for the essential functions of eating and speaking and for more complex actions like forming different sounds in varied languages.

One of The Strongest and Most Flexible Muscles

Let’s talk about real muscle power–and no, we’re not heading to the gym. We’re talking about the tongue. Believe it or not, this unassuming organ is considered one of the body’s strongest and most flexible muscles.

Day in and day out, your tongue is constantly at work–talking, tasting, swallowing. It is constantly in use and, because of that, maintains its Olympian strength!

Sticking One’s Tongue Out in Tibet is Polite

In Tibet, sticking out one’s tongue can be a sign of respect and greeting. This tradition, steeped in history, dates back to the 9th century.

Legend has it that a cruel king known for his black tongue was reincarnated, and to prove they weren’t the reincarnation of this despised ruler, people began showing their tongues as a sign of goodwill.

In modern times, this gesture has evolved into a polite greeting, like a handshake or a bow, in other cultures.

Dry Tongues Make Things Less Tasty

Hydration plays a crucial role in how well we taste our food. Saliva, enhanced by proper hydration, breaks down food particles, making flavors more accessible to our taste buds. A dry mouth means less effective tasting, as flavors are soluble with adequate saliva.

Moisture in food also affects taste perception. Foods with more moisture are easier to taste because they mix better with saliva, enhancing flavor detection. To maximize taste, stay hydrated and choose foods with natural juices or add sauces to dry dishes.

The Tongue Can Detect Five Basic Tastes

Your tongue is an expert at identifying the “Big Five” of tastes: sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami. Sweet is your body’s way of high-fiving for energy-rich foods, sour is a cheek-puckering warning sign, salty keeps your electrolyte game strong, bitter is nature’s “beware” label, and umami? The Japanese call it a “pleasant savory taste.”

Our taste buds can detect all these tastes, busting the myth of a tongue map.

Your Tongue Has a Rapid-Healing Superpower

Ever wonder why small cuts and scrapes in your mouth usually heal fast? Your tongue is like a superhero when it comes to healing! Thanks to its supercharged blood supply, it can bounce back from injuries quicker than many other body parts.

This speedy recovery is not just convenient; it’s essential for a muscle always on the move, helping you talk, eat, and taste.

Taste Buds Have a Short Lifespan

Taste bud receptors have a surprisingly short lifespan. They typically last for about 10 to 14 days^{4https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/taste-bud} before they renew themselves.

This regeneration ability is crucial for our sense of taste, as damaged or worn-out taste buds could lead to worse taste perception.

Our Taste Gets Worse as We Age

As people age, they often experience a decline in taste sensitivity. This is because there is a decrease in the number of taste buds and a shrinkage in the size of the remaining ones. 

This diminished taste sensitivity can lead to decreased appetite and enjoyment of food in older adults!

Now that you’re an expert on interesting tongue facts, are you ready to put that tongue to work? We’ve got you covered: 16 Science-Based Public Speaking Tips To Be a Master Speaker