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Have you ever wondered what those tiny bumps on your tongue are? If yes, then we have got you covered. And for those who think they know the answer (read: taste buds), umm, they are not! So what are they? On the tongue’s surface, there are certain elevations of skin or epithelium, medically known as papillae. “Taste buds are located inside these capillary-like finger-like processes. These taste buds, however, can also be present on the palate, the inner part of the cheek, the pharynx, or the throat in addition to being distributed throughout the tongue,” said Dr Divya Prabhat, consultant ENT, Jaslok Hospital and Research Centre, Mumbai.
Dr Aditya Chowti, Senior Consultant- Internal Medicine, Fortis Hospital, Cunningham Road, Bangalore shared the different types of papillae as:
• Filiform papillae: These are the most numerous papillae on the tongue and do not contain taste buds. They are responsible for the tongue’s rough texture and help with gripping and chewing your food.
• Fungiform papillae: These papillae are scattered across the tongue, especially on the sides and tip. They’re the same colour as the rest of your tongue and, under normal circumstances, are unnoticeable. These papillae contribute to the rough texture of the tongue, aiding in the process of eating. Also, they contain taste buds and temperature sensors.
• Circumvallate papillae: These are larger papillae located at the back of the tongue in a V-shaped row. They are surrounded by a trench-like groove and contain numerous taste buds.
• Foliate papillae: These papillae are located on the sides of the back of the tongue. They contain taste buds during childhood, but they tend to decrease in number as we age.
Although the bumps on our tongue include different types of papillae, only specific papillae, such as the fungiform, circumvallate, and foliate papillae, contain taste buds responsible for our sense of taste.
Generally, taste buds themselves are too tiny to be visible to the naked eye. “What can be seen are the papillae, which house the taste buds. Taste buds are only visible under a microscope,” Dr Shama Kovale, Consultant ENT, Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital Mumbai, told indianexpress.com.
We don’t have different types of taste buds per se, but we do have taste bud cells that respond to different types of tastes. “These include sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami (a savoury taste often associated with proteins). Each taste bud can contain a combination of these types,” explained Dr Kovale.
The primary function of taste buds is to sense the different types of tastes. “Each taste bud contains 50 to 100 taste receptor cells. When we eat, the molecules from our food interact with these receptors, sending signals to our brain about the taste of the food. This plays a crucial role not only in our enjoyment of the food, but also in our body’s ability to recognise nutritious substances and potentially harmful substances,” said Dr Kovale.
“Yes, taste buds can be damaged or burned by consuming excessively hot or spicy foods, acidic or sugary drinks, smoking, and certain medical conditions. The use of certain medications or chemotherapy can also cause temporary or permanent damage to taste buds. Deficiency of vitamins like Vitamin B12, fungal infection and other vitamin deficiencies are also responsible for the damage,” said Dr Rajiv Dang, Medical Director and HOD, Internal Medicine, Max Hospital Gurugram.
In most cases, taste buds will regenerate within a few days to a few weeks. “In the meantime, it is recommended to avoid consuming hot, spicy, or acidic foods, rinse the mouth with saltwater or baking soda solution to help soothe the affected area, and maintain good oral hygiene,” says Dr Dang.
Dr Nishath Sabreen, Consultant, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Belenus Champion Hospital, Bangalore added that on an average our taste buds are self-healing and usually regenerate within 1 to 2 weeks without any intervention. Hence, generally no medications are required for their healing.
However, Dr Sabrren shared certain measures to facilitate early healing. They are:
1. Consuming food at optimal temperatures, it should be neither too hot nor too cold.
2. Avoid betel quid/slaked lime chewing as they are astringent in nature.
3. Avoid extensively spicy food. Allow a recovery time by keeping your diet bland and at normal temperature.
Dr Sabreen listed out certain medical conditions related to taste buds. They are:
Ageusia – Complete loss of taste
Dysgeusia – Change or distorted taste perception.
Hypergeusia- Increased sensitivity of taste
Hypogeusia – Reduced sense of taste.
“These should be further evaluated by a medical professional at the earliest and should not be ignored,” concludes Dr Sabreen.
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