THE TONGUE

Oct 08, 2016 News

By Dr. Neromini Fagu

Our tongue is a remarkable organ. It is very mobile and flexible to take on various positions and perform different movements. It is made up of several muscles and is covered by a thin mucous membrane. The muscle fibers have a lot of nerves which help the tongue to move food in our mouth so the food can be placed for chewing between the teeth without the tongue being bitten in the process.

Surfaces of the Tongue

The top of the tongue is called the dorsal surface and has a V-shaped line called the terminal sulcus which separates the tongue into the front and back surfaces. The front part of the tongue contains the structures called papillae which house the taste buds. A groove along the middle divides the front part of the tongue into the left and right parts. The back surface of the tongue has no papillae and is rough because it has lymphoid nodules.

The under-part of the tongue is the ventral surface and is attached to the floor of the mouth by a structure called the frenulum. On either side of the base of the frenulum is the opening for saliva ducts. The bottom of the tongue is smooth and is purple in appearance due to the many blood vessels that run along it.

Functions of the Tongue

The main function of the tongue is often thought to be taste but it plays other roles as well. The movement of the tongue is critical for speaking. The tongue helps the teeth and other parts of the mouth with chewing food and passing the food down the throat for swallowing. The movements of the tongue help to keep our mouths clean by dislodging food particles stuck between the teeth, gum and cheek so that food can be expelled or swallowed.

Taste Receptors

Each adult has an average of about 10,000 taste buds on the surface of the tongue and these are replaced every two weeks, but as we get older they are not replaced. There are five common tastes that humans can distinguish: sweet, sour, salty, bitter and savoury. Savoury, also called umami, is the most recently recognised taste.

It has been found that receptors for each of these tastes are located all over the tongue, and this has debunked the long held myth that different parts of the tongue are responsible for different tastes. The five tastes can actually be sensed by all parts of the tongue but overall the sides of the tongue are more sensitive than the middle. There is, however, one exception and that is the back of the tongue which is very sensitive to bitter tastes. Researchers think that this is to safeguard us from swallowing poisonous or spoiled foods or substances.

Conditions Affecting the Tongue

The tongue may be affected by a number of issues. The most common condition seen by dentists is called geographic tongue which gives the appearance of continents on a map. It usually appears as red patches on the tongue with a yellow or white border that disappears and reappears on different parts of the tongue. The cause is unknown and there is usually no pain or symptoms associated with it.

Caring for your Tongue

The tongue is exposed to a lot of different substances and all its crevices as well as the tiny taste buds make great places for acid and bacteria to hide. Good oral hygiene is important and each time you brush your teeth you should incorporate brushing your tongue as well. Some people who may have a sensitive gag reflex when brushing the tongue could try using a tongue scraper instead.

For more information contact OMNI DENTAL at 295 Quamina Street, Georgetown Tel: 227-0025, Parika Tel: 260-3133 or send emails to [email protected].

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THE TONGUE

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THE TONGUE

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