Smoking
Smoking causes a scalloped tongue by damaging the taste buds. Taste buds are small, sensitive structures that are located on the tongue. They play an important role in our ability to taste food and beverages. When we eat or drink something, the taste buds send signals to the brain that help us recognize the flavors we’re experiencing.
Each taste bud is made up of several different types of cells, including supporting cells, basal cells, and receptor cells. The receptor cells are the most important cell type for our purposes, as they’re responsible for detecting flavors. Receptor cells are replaced every ten days or so.
Cigarette smoke contains thousands of harmful chemicals, including nicotine, tar, and carbon monoxide. When these chemicals are inhaled, they damage the taste buds. This damage manifests as inflammation and changes in the structure of the receptor cells. These changes prevent the taste buds from functioning properly, which leads to a decrease in the ability to taste food and drinks. In addition to causing scalloped tongue, smoking also causes bad breath, stained teeth, and gum disease. It’s also been linked to cancers of the mouth and throat.
