We don’t spend much time thinking about our tongues, but they're so important. The tongue is the organ that helps us taste our food, move it around so we can chew it, and then swallow it. It helps keep our teeth clean and helps us to speak. Beyond those essential functions, the tongue acts as a signpost for our body’s health. When our doctors tell us to stick our tongues out and say, “Aaahh,” it’s more than just so they can see our throats. A healthy person’s tongue is pink, dotted with tiny bumps called papillae. An unhealthy tongue looks