K14.4: Atrophy of tongue papillae
The tongue is mostly made up of muscles. The tongue is important for chewing, swallowing and speaking. It is connected to the back of the throat. There are many taste buds on the surface of the tongue. The taste buds have lots of small nerves, allowing us to perceive taste.
When the taste buds shrink in size, the tongue may look smooth and redder. A burning sensation may also be felt on the tongue. A vitamin B12 deficiency is one possible reason for the taste buds shrinking in size.
Vitamin B12 is important for many processes in the body. This is involved in producing blood components. It is also important for growth and the renewal of cells. There are different reasons for a vitamin B12 deficiency. These include, for example, an unbalanced diet or an inflammation in the stomach. You can also have a deficiency if your intestine is unable to absorb enough vitamins from food.
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