The tongue serves several important functions in the mouth1. Taste: The tongue is covered with taste buds that allow you to detect and distinguish between different tastes such as sweet, sour, salty, and bitter.
2. Chewing and Swallowing: The tongue helps in manipulating food within the mouth during chewing, breaking it down into smaller pieces that can be easily swallowed.
3. Speech: The tongue plays a crucial role in speech production by helping to form sounds. It contacts various parts of the mouth, such as the roof, teeth, and lips, to produce different sounds and words.
4. Cleaning: The tongue helps to keep the mouth clean by removing food particles and bacteria. The rough surface of the tongue, along with its movements, helps in clearing debris from the teeth and gums.
5. Moistening: The tongue contributes to the moistening of food, making it easier to swallow.In summary, the tongue is a versatile organ with roles in taste perception, chewing and swallowing, speech, oral hygiene, and the overall comfort of the mouth.