5 Fun Facts About Your Tongue

Our tongue is one of the most important muscles in our bodies. It helps us taste our food, helps us form words, protects the bacteria from getting inside the mouth, and overall is very necessary for our day-to-day lives. Yet, most people don’t know much about this crucial muscle in our body. In fact, most people might not even be aware that the tongue is considered a muscle and not an organ.

Here are facts about the human tongue that Are fun to know

1. The average tongue is 3 inches long from the back to the tip and contains about 8 muscles.
    
2. Contrary to popular belief, the sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and umami taste buds aren’t carefully divided into different areas of the tongue. Instead, your tongue has between 3,000 to 10,000 unique taste buds that all work together to help you taste anything you eat.
    
3. Your tongue is always working. Even when you’re sleeping or resting, your tongue is still at work. So, if someone puts some soda inside your mouth while you’re sleeping, your tongue will be the first one to notice.
    
4. You’re likely already aware that everyone has a unique fingerprint. But did you know that you also have a unique tongue print? While it may not help the forensic department catch a criminal – no one licks their crime scene, do they? – it is still a cool fact to know.
    
5. As we’ve already established, the tongue is a muscle. But it is also the most flexible muscle in your body and can be bent in ways other muscles cannot.