1- Proportionally to its size, it is the most powerful muscle in the body
TRUE. In his latest book Language: The private life of a very discreet organ, speech therapist Catherine Thibault reminds us that with its 17 muscles, the tongue is one of the most powerful organs of the human body, which rises 2,000 times a day to touch the palate. It is in fact capable of exerting a precise and controlled force, essential for actions such as chewing, swallowingspeech, but also sucking.
2- It appears last in embryonic formation
Fake. The language begins to form from the fourth week of pregnancy, ensuring a vital function: the sucking-swallowing of amniotic fluid in the fetus. It develops from embryonic structures called branchial arches, which gradually develop into different parts of the mouth, including the tongue. Over the next few weeks, as the embryo matures into a fetus, the tongue continues to develop until it takes its final shape.
3- Without it, impossible to stand
TRUE. Between approximately 9 and 12 months, when the child begins to stand, the tongue will begin to adopt a high position, pointing towards the palate while the mandible descends. The movements of the two dissociate. Nature doing things well, at the same time the cervical curvature widens and stabilizes, dragging the tongue along. The baby can therefore hold his head upright better. to start eating more solid foods with a spoon.
4- Taste buds have a lifespan of 2 years
Fake. Taste buds, which contain taste receptors, are renewed throughout our lives. They have a lifespan of only 8 to 10 days, which explains why When we burn our tongue, we kill some of our taste cells. Fortunately, everything comes back to normal fairly quickly.
How to take good care of your tongue?
Treating your tongue well is important to maintaining good oral health. After each toothbrushing, we therefore use a tongue scraper or the silicone surface of certain toothbrush heads to remove bacteria and food debris from its surface which can accumulate. Little tips to avoid damaging your tongue: brush from back to frontlimit alcohol consumption, avoid tobacco, very hot, very spicy or very acidic foods and drinks and don’t forget to make an annual visit to the dentist.