9 Things You (Probably) Didn’t Know About the Tongue | South Sioux City NE Dentist

dentist in South Sioux City

We use our tongues every day to talk, taste, and swallow, yet we rarely take time to think about this flexible organ. Here are 9 things you may not know about the tongue:

  1. The longest recorded tongue was more than 3.8 inches from back to tip; the widest measured over 3” across.
  2. The human tongue contains 8 separate muscles intertwined.
  3. A blue whale tongue weighs about 5,400 pounds and is roughly the size of an adult elephant!
  4. Tongues come in many shapes and have varying numbers of taste buds. This makes a human tongue imprint as unique as a fingerprint.
  5. The average person has about 10,000 taste buds in their mouth.
  6. A single taste bud contains between 50 and 100 taste cells, which may have sensors for multiple tastes.
  7. No individual taste cell can identify both bitter and sweet flavors.
  8. 1 milliliter of saliva contains about 1,000,000 bacteria.
  9. Using a tongue scraper to clean your tongue is proven to help prevent osteoporosis, pneumonia, heart attacks, premature births, diabetes, and male infertility.

Health issues involving the tongue are most commonly caused by bacteria or tobacco use. Proper cleaning of the tongue can help prevent these conditions from developing. However, if you notice sores, discoloration, or other symptoms, contact our office.

Some tongue-affecting illnesses include:

For more information about the tongue or to schedule a screening with our doctor, contact our office.

Family 1st Dental of South Sioux City
Phone: (402) 494-2144
3220 Plaza Drive
South Sioux City, NE 68776

Return to Blog Articles

Visit Our South Sioux City Dental Office

Dentist South Sioux City

South Sioux City Location

3220 Plaza Drive,
South Sioux City, NE 68776

(402) 494-2144

Screen Shot 2019-07-23 at 11.11.46 AM

Our Dental News

Dentist South Sioux City

Understanding the Relationship Between Acid Levels and Tooth Decay | Dentist 68776

Acid levels in the mouth can have a major impact on the likelihood of developing tooth decay. When the acid levels in the mouth are too high, it can cause the enamel of the teeth to become weakened, leading to […]

Learn More

Daily Flossing | Dentist 68776

We’ve all been told at least once in our life that flossing daily is crucial. Here are four reasons why flossing may be beneficial for your oral health routine:  We are pleased to offer a variety of oral health solutions […]

Learn More

Fruit Juice & Your Teeth: A Message From Your Dentist | 68776 Dentist

Don’t be fooled by the label “100 percent fruit juice.” Drinks advertised in this way might seem like a healthy choice, but these drinks may be doing more harm than good. In fact, fruit juices contain sugar that can lead […]

Learn More