What is Your Tongue?

Your tongue is a special part of your mouth! It might look funny, but it is really important. Let’s learn some cool things about your tongue!

All Muscle, No Bone

Your tongue is made of muscle, which means it is very strong and flexible. Just like how you can move your arms and legs to play, your tongue can move all around your mouth! It helps you do many things, like:

• Tasting: Your tongue helps you taste all the yummy foods you eat! It has tiny bumps called taste buds that tell you if something is sweet, sour, salty, or bitter.
• Speaking: When you talk, your tongue moves to make different sounds. It helps you say words so your friends and family can understand you.
• Swallowing: Your tongue helps push food to the back of your mouth so you can swallow it easily.

Very Supple!

Because your tongue is all muscle, it can bend and stretch, just like a rubber band! This makes it easy for your tongue to reach anywhere in your mouth. You can even stick it out, curl it, or wiggle it around!

Take Care of Your Tongue!

It’s important to keep your tongue clean and healthy. Make sure to brush your teeth twice a day and drink plenty of water. This helps keep your tongue happy and ready to help you taste delicious foods and talk to your friends!

Fun Tongue Challenge!

Try this! Stick out your tongue and see if you can touch your nose. Or, try wiggling your tongue side to side as fast as you can. See how strong and flexible your tongue is!

Your tongue is amazing, and now you know how special it is!