The human tongue is covered by small bumps called papillae which contain thousands of taste buds. The dozen-or-so papillae on the very back of the tongue, called the circumvallate papillae or vallate papillae, are larger than other papillae on the tongue and are arranged in a v-shape that points towards the throat.

An infected tooth, also known as a tooth abscess, refers to an accumulation of pus that infiltrates the center of the tooth, says MedlinePlus. It says that symptoms of an infected tooth include a toothache that is gnawing or throbbing in nature, a bitter taste in the mouth, swollen neck glands and pain when eating.

Swelling occurs after dental implant surgery for the same reason swelling can occur after any surgery. The operation involves cutting the gum open to expose bone and drilling into the bone where the dental implant will be placed. Sometimes, dental implants are performed in stages, so additional surgery is necessary.

Thirst and dry mouth at night can be very uncomfortable. Night thirst and dry mouth can cause pain and discomfort itself, and can also be a symptom of other conditions. It is important for all those suffering continual thirst and dry mouth at night to seek the advice of a medical professional.

A mouth guard is a piece of oral protective equipment, frequently used by athletes that participate in sports such as boxing, football, hockey or other sports where injury to the mouth and teeth may occur. People who grind their teeth while asleep may also wear a mouth guard.

A geographic tongue causes stinging or burning sensations and occasionally causes pain, swelling or numbness. Geographic tongue alters papillae–small protrusions on which taste buds are located–that are evenly spread out on unaffected tongues.

A canker sore usually heals on its own in a matter of days, but it can be a painful inconvenience for a kid who's waiting for it to get better. The mouth ulcer often develops on the inside of the cheek or on the tongue, making eating uncomfortable.

A whiter, brighter smile can make you feel more confident and may enhance your image when meeting people for the first time.

Canker sores hurt and sometimes make the smallest mouth movement painful. These tiny lesions in your mouth or gums can be caused by injury, vitamin deficiency, stress, a body chemistry imbalance, food allergies or acidic foods, such as pineapples, tomatoes and oranges.

A dry roof of the mouth is more than an inconvenience. It can cause major discomfort and even prevent you from completing your regular daily tasks. A dry mouth -- including a dry roof of the mouth -- can also lead to more serious complications.

Changes in elevation can cause pain in the teeth, which is a condition called barodontalgia. It is not only caused by mountain climbing, but by any change in atmospheric pressure. Whatever the initial cause, these painful toothaches are often a sign of underlying dental problems or imperfect dental work.

About 1.2 billion servings of Coke were distributed daily in 2003, according to Forbes.com. Concerns about soft drink health have lead many schools to eliminate sodas from beverage machines and cafeterias, and dentists are warning both children and adults to steer clear of sodas.