Know Your Mouth!

Overview

Pop Quiz: Know Your Mouth!

Question 1

How many taste buds does the human tongue have?

Choices

500, 5,000, 10,000 or 25,000

Conclusion

Although taste buds aren't visible to the human eye, the average tongue has about 10,000 of them and they're replaced about every 2 weeks.

Question 2

Now, can you guess how much saliva a person can produce in a day?

Choices

1 to 2 liters, 25 liters, 5 liters, or 19 liters

Conclusion

A healthy person can produce 1 to 2 liters of saliva per day! This adds up to roughly 58,400 liters over a lifetime. That’s enough to fill 7 standard cement mixer trucks!

Question 3

And finally, do you know how many muscles are in the human tongue?

Choices

One, two, five or eight

Conclusion

Your tongue is made up of 8 different muscles. The tongue constantly works to help you talk, eat and swallow. It even works in your sleep! That's one tough tongue.

Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.