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Can you roll your tongue?

If you can roll your tongue, you are part of the majority of people that are able to roll their tongues.  Between 65 and 80% of people are able to roll their tongues.  

Why can some people roll their tongue while others can't?

The most common answer would be genetics.  Most people are taught in school that tongue rolling is an inherited trait from one of your parents.  If you received the dominant variation of the tongue rolling gene, chances are that you too will be able to roll your tongue.

According to Professor John H. McDonald, from the University of Delaware department of biological the genetics of tongue rolling is too simplified.  Although genetics do play a role in the art of tongue rolling McDonald says that in some  cases, the environment plays a part. 

It's “nature vs. nurture” in  action—many people can break genetic bounds and teach themselves the  sacred art of tongue rolling.      

Why is the tongue such an important part of the body?

                                                

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Your tongue is the strongest muscle in your body.  It is the home of all your taste buds.  There are nearly 10 000 taste buds in the mouth of which 8000 live on your tongue.  Your tongue is the only organ capable of sensing taste and sends taste signals to the brain.  

Even though the tongue is the strongest muscle it is also the most sensitive muscle.  Your tongue can also tell a lot about a person's health.  

• A Pink tongue indicates good health
• A White tongue indicates a fungal infection 
• A Yellow tongue indicates a stomach problem or fever

Interesting facts about the tongue

• Women have shorter tongues than men.
• The tongue can only taste what dissolves in water or saliva. 
• You need to keep your tongue clean to prevent bad breath.  
• Approximately 600 different bacteria lives in our mouths, and there is approximately one million of these bacteria in one drop of saliva. 
• Every taste bud on the tongue has between 50 to 100 taste sensing cells.  
• The tongue helps us to talk, swallow, spit and even to kiss.  
• The longest human tongue to be recorded was 3.86 inches from back to tip.  
• Every tongue print is unique.  Much like a fingerprint.  

Why do people kiss with their tongues?

                                 

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If you think about it, a french kiss is not one of the most inviting ideas.  Swapping saliva with someone else, thinking about all the bacteria in their mouths can really be a deal breaker. Evolutionary psychologists believe that kissing is part of a courtship ritual to judge a potential partner's compatibility and chemistry.  By tasting someone else's saliva you are actually tasting if they will be a good partner or not.  Saliva and sweat contains pheromones that can either switch you on or switch you off.  

Tongue jewelry

                                                                             

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Even though I don't see the point in tongue jewelry or the reason behind it, some people believe that a tongue ring enhances oral sex.  I think a tongue piercing is as useful as a tattoo. Useless. 

Famous quotes about the power of the tongue

•  “A slip of the foot may injure your body, but a slip of the tongue will injure your bond.”   
   ―     Amit Kalantri
•  “The problem is not in the sugar when it tastes bitter, the problem is with the tongue.”   
   ―     Munia Khan
•  “Ignorance is no reason with a fool for holding his tongue.”   
   ―    George MacDonald
•  “One's tongue has neither bone nor poison; however, it depends on one's  words that, what, and how it employs, which might or might not become  bone and poison.”   
   ―     Ehsan Sehgal 

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I hope you enjoyed reading.  Should you wish to read some more please use the links below:

References:

Upper Airway Research Laboratory: Human Tongue Neuro-anatomy 

http://www.livescience.com/52362-tongue.html

http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/picture-of-the-tongue

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