Swollen Taste Buds: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

Question
Is there any treatment for a swollen taste bud?

Answer
Sherry,

There are several types of taste buds the smaller are on the anterior superior aspect of the tongue.  The medium sized ones are on the lateral edges and the posterior tongue has very large ones.  Most people don't notice the large ones because they are difficult to see unless you protrude your tongue to it's limit.  They can hypertrophy during illness on occasion and become noticeable.  There is nothing to do to reduce the size per se.  Sometimes the hypertrophy can produce hairlike projections that can become stained by coffee or tobacco smoke and thus look like "hair" or a hairy tongue. Again nothing to do but avoid those things that stain the tissue.

JP Saleeby, MD
www.saleeby.net