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Why is My Tongue So Sensitive to Spicy Foods?

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There are so many delicious spicy foods. Hot peppers, curry, jalapenos, and salsa are just a few examples of the most common ones. While some people love spicy foods, others do not like them or cannot tolerate them. Whether or not you like spicy foods typically depends on the amount of papillae you may have.

Papillae are the tiny bumps on the top of your tongue that help grip food while your teeth are chewing. Many people don’t realize that these tiny bumps host the majority of their taste buds. Time after time, research has proven that people with more papillae than others typically find certain foods to be too overwhelming.

If your tongue is sensitive to spicy foods, you likely have more papillae than the average person. You may prefer milder foods as they feel better on your tongue and do not overwhelm your mouth. However, if you have less papillae than other people, chances are high that you love spicy foods. You enjoy a strong taste explosion and find that many foods taste too bland.

Believe it or not, the average human tongue has 2,000 to 8,000 papillae or taste buds. While you may have 8,000 and stay away from spicy foods, your friend may have 2,000 and fill their entire diet with spicy foods. Everyone has a different amount of taste buds that impact what they choose to eat.

Contact Costa Family & Cosmetic Dentistry

If you have further questions about tongue sensitivity and spicy foods, we encourage you to contact our office. Call us 703-439-1214 today.

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