They are large and round, and there are about eight to 12 of them. Papillae help grip food and move it around while you chew. People are born with about 10,000 taste buds. But as a person ages, some of his taste buds die. That's why some foods may taste stronger to you than they do to an adult.
Taste buds can detect sweet, sour, bitter, and salty flavors.
Recently, scientists found a new kind of taste bud that responds to the taste of MSG, a chemical food additive. The cilia are covered with special receptors that are very sensitive to things around them. When you put something in your mouth and it begins to dissolve in saliva, this stimulates the cilia to start making nerve signals. These signals then travel to the brain , where the brain can interpret the signals and identify the taste for you. Identifying tastes is your brain's way of telling you about what's going into your mouth, and in some cases, keeping you safe.