# Tastebud Supernova **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 17, 2000, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tastebud-supernova/46015 "2000-12-17T13:46:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Commander\_Fortune](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Commander\_Fortune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Commander_Fortune)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2000, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tastebud-supernova/46015/1 "2000-12-17T13:46:17Z")
You know when a single tastebud swells to 100 times its normal size? What causes this? Is there a name for this irritation? ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2000, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tastebud-supernova/46015/2 "2000-12-17T21:40:02Z")
Well, shoot, searching both Google and Jeeves for “tastebuds” brings up nothing but restaurant guides. For heaven’s sake. :rolleyes: Anybody else want to give it a shot? ---
**Author:** ![galyean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f9ae1b/32.png) [@galyean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/galyean)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2000, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tastebud-supernova/46015/3 "2000-12-18T03:18:12Z")
My mom always told me it was a lie bump and I should should quit telling stories. I’m pretty sure that’s not the answer you were looking for though. ---
**Author:** ![Commander\_Fortune](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Commander\_Fortune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Commander_Fortune)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2000, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tastebud-supernova/46015/4 "2000-12-19T06:39:09Z")
It’s pretty close. Actually, my nine year old daughter asked me this and I couldn’t answer. She’s been known to spin a yarn or two in her short days. Hmmm. Anyone else? ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2000, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tastebud-supernova/46015/5 "2000-12-19T08:27:27Z")
You mean when the tastebud starts throbbing? I don’t know the name for it. But I’ve been so VERY annoyed with a few of them that I’ve snipped them off with sterilized cuticle scissors. I’m sure that this is not a good idea, but I was desperate at the time. Oddly enough, it seems that my mouthwash was causing it. I also get them if I ingest artificial sweetener. I’m a diabetic. Sigh. ---
**Author:** ![DonJuanDeMarco3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a87d85/32.png) [@DonJuanDeMarco3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DonJuanDeMarco3)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2000, 10:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tastebud-supernova/46015/6 "2000-12-19T10:06:02Z")
I thought it was caused by the food additive found in most asian fast food. GHB or something. wait thats something else. ---
**Author:** ![Meephead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b782af/32.png) [@Meephead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meephead)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2000, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tastebud-supernova/46015/7 "2000-12-19T16:05:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lynn Bodoni \* > …I’ve been so VERY annoyed with a few of them that I’ve snipped them off with sterilized cuticle scissors. I’m sure that this is not a good idea, but I was desperate at the time. I do that too… > [@](#): > > Oddly enough, it seems that my mouthwash was causing it… That is possible… The Sodium Lauryl Sulfate that is in many mouthwashes and toothpastes can cause mouth sores for some people. Another possible cause would be that you body’s pH is too low. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2000, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tastebud-supernova/46015/8 "2000-12-20T02:31:47Z")
the tastebuds of the tongue are found on the papillae, which are small protrusions visible on the tongue. When the papillae get thermal injuries, ie burns, they may swell up. Frequently individual papillae will swell and become painful, often in response to an irritant, or a microclot in the venule draining that papillae. It swells, dies, and sloughs off. The tongue regrows new ones. The tastebuds themselves are small receptor cells, and each papillae may have thousands of them.