The taste buds present in the tongue play a very prominent role in helping us identify certain properties of the foods and substances we consume. The taste buds are the receptors in the tongue that directly relay information to the brain - helping us identify if a certain food is too sweet, too salty, just right or has some other savory character to it. The taste buds located on the tongue can easily be seen with the naked eye, albeit with the help of a mirror. When you stick your tongue out in front of a mirror you will see a number of small bumps on the tongue. These bumps are known as papillae, most of which contain taste buds. These taste buds also have microscopic hair that allows them to send messages to the brain about how something tastes. Extensive research has shown that each individual has about 10,000 taste buds located on the tongue that are replaced every two weeks with a fresh set. However, due to the aging process, there are instances where an older individual may see some of the taste buds have not been replaced. This would therefore cause the individual to lose taste and interest in certain foods as compared to others. Certain other factors are also known to play a substantial role in the development and renewal of taste buds such as in the case of smoking.
Tongue care and maintenance is of prime importance because of the fact that there are also a number of different bacteria in the area that can easily cause some amount of medical discomfort if allowed to affect some parts of the body. Infected taste buds are a common occurrence, although they can and should be dealt with rather easily as the symptoms of infected taste buds make the condition very evident to the individual. Infected taste buds on tongue are, more often than not, caused by a severe deficiency in vitamin B complex, pipe smoking, thickening of the tissues around the tongue are and fungal infection as a result of decreased immunity. Mouth ulcers or tongue ulcers are a very common cause of the development of infected taste buds because of the large number of bacteria around the area. Cross biting is another factor that is very likely to cause a cut on the taste buds - likely to lead to some kind of infection. Consumption of hot, spicy and salty foods is only likely to aggravate the condition further. Infected taste buds on tongue are also likely to be the result of overcooked foods or even consumption of food whose temperature is extremely hot at the time of consumption. Certain mineral and vitamin deficiencies are also likely to cause the occurrence of an inflamed taste bud. Pregnancy is known to bring about a variety of changes in the body of the woman. The hormonal changes happen rapidly during this time and therefore the chemical balance in the body is greatly affected. Because of this fact, pregnancy can also easily be one of the leading infected taste buds causes of on the tongue. When seeking methods on how to treat infected taste buds, it is important to make it a point to approach a trained physician or local doctor in order to identify and get a better understanding of the various treatment options available - depending largely on the causing factor of the condition.
Although most of the taste buds are located on the tongue, there are also a large number of taste buds located on other areas of the mouth including the roof of the mouth, the lips, back of the throat as well as the inner side of the cheeks. Because of the fact that many people suffer from their taste buds not working properly, there are a number of home remedies that have been developed all around the world in order to help treat the problem. Some of the most effective methods of preventing the infection of taste buds include making it a point to consume nourishing diet fruits, whole grains, nuts and legumes in addition to the avoidance of dangerous and influencing substances such as tobacco, caffeine and alcohol. Avoid the consumption of foods that are greasy or fried and sugary while also wiping off patches with cloth dipped in solutions of borax as well as those mixed with water and honey. If already affected by a condition of infected taste buds, you should remember to take advantage of a diet that primarily consists of raw foods. Salt water can do wonders in fighting off a tongue infection, especially if it is used during the initial stages of the infection. Adequate rest and exercise is a must to help condition the body to be more prepared for infectious developments as well as increase the immunity levels in the body. When it comes to dealing with infected taste buds on the tongue, it is important to make sure that you have made a correct diagnosis of the condition. This is primarily because of the fact that sucking on an ice cube is more than likely to prove beneficial as it sill help soothe the irritated skin cells. In the event that you do see a white patch on the tongue, it is more likely to be indicative of the presence of oral thrush and should be investigated further and dealt with in the appropriate methods that one deals with in oral thrush. Unsweetened yogurt is known to be a very effective method when it comes to restoring the oral micro flora and should be consumed in large quantities in order to help fight the condition. Tea tree oil is also known to be a very effective method of dealing with infected taste buds because of the anti bacterial as well as anti septic properties of the substance. Gargling with a mixture of water combined with tea tree oil at least 3 times a day will help treat any of the taste buds that are affected by fungi.
answered by G M