Understanding your taste buds

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Most of us worry about the effects of aging on our looks and bodies, but did you know that it impacts your taste buds, as well? We sat down with Heather O'Toole, MD, a primary care physician with HonorHealth Medical Group, to learn some fast facts.

Did you know that your taste buds are:

Located in the top surface of your tongue, soft palate, upper esophagus, cheek and epiglottis (cartilage in your throat)
Composed of four types of papillae (bumps), which function to detect taste
Able to detect five elements of taste in any part of your mouth, which combine to make flavors bitter, salty, sour, sweet and savory
Alive for an average of 10 days
On the same team as your nose – sensory receptors pick up chemicals emitted from chewing, which are communicated with the brain for a full experience of flavor

“You can have 5,000-10,000 taste buds at any point in time. As you age, the number of taste buds you have decreases, and the ones you do keep tend to shrink,” says Dr. O'Toole. “But if you're experiencing a difference in the way food tastes, schedule an appointment with a provider. There could be an underlying cause for it. And don't be tempted to overdo the salt or sugar. It's just not good for you. Stick to herbs and spices.”