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There is plenty of interesting trivia about the human tongue. Is it the strongest muscle in your body? Is it the only muscle that is not attached on both ends by connective tissue? Does it hold all but 10% of your taste buds? The answer to these questions is yes. Your Temecula general dentists from Oasis Family Dental would like to see what other tongue facts you are already aware of.

Questions

Q1. True or false – Taste buds die every few days.

Q2. True or false – The tongue helps with vowels and “s” sounds but the soft palate is responsible for forming most words and sounds.

Q3. True or false – The tongue can regenerate if you bite it off in an accident.

Q4. True or false – There are three main tastes that the tongue is responsible for.

Q5. True or false – Tongue piercings are harmless.

Answers

A1. TRUE – Not only do they die, but they also regenerate every few days.

A2. FALSE – The tongue is largely responsible for helping you enunciate and form words when you speak.

A3. FALSE – This is not true, but the tongue does heal faster than any other part of the body.

A4. FALSE -The five basic tastes are sour, sweet, bitter, salty, and umami. What is umami, you ask? It is a taste caused by glutamate (a naturally occurring amino acid). Umami is not sweet, sour, salty, or spicy. An example would be French fries dipped in ketchup, since potatoes and tomatoes both have glutamates that react with each other to create a distinct flavor.

A5. FALSE – You may be able to get away with wearing oral jewelry temporarily with no problems, but dentists agree that tongue and lip rings are risky business for your dental health. Not only are you inviting potential damage to your teeth and gums with tongue piercings, but nerve damage is a possibility as well. Without proper nerve function, you could end up having trouble moving your tongue and speaking properly.

Consult with Your Temecula General Dentists

If you have any concerns with your tongue or any aspect of your mouth, contact your general dentists in Temecula at the Oasis Family Dental. We provide comprehensive dental care for our patients of all ages. To contact our 92591 dental office, don’t hesitate to call (951) 695-2290 and schedule an appointment today. We welcome patients from Temecula and all surrounding communities.