Typically, they are not symbolic of a more severe condition, and the swelling will go away on their own with time. Are Swollen Taste Buds Harmful?Įnlarged taste buds can be pretty uncomfortable. Read on to learn what your taste buds are trying to tell you. Inflamed taste buds can become irritated and painful, causing extreme discomfort while eating or drinking. Taste buds are microscopic, which means you should not feel them, but sometimes your taste buds can swell, enlarge, and become inflamed. Every person has roughly 10,000 taste buds that line the tongue, and each taste bud has between 10-50 sensory cells connected to your body’s nerve fibers. Your taste buds allow you to recognize various tastes, from sweet to sour.