Taste buds typically regenerate about every 10 to 14 days (every one to two weeks). This renewal process means that new taste bud cells replace old ones to maintain taste sensitivity. However, this regeneration slows down as people age, especially starting around their 40s and 50s, leading to fewer taste buds and a diminished sense of taste. Factors like aging, smoking, and alcohol consumption can affect the health and regeneration rate of taste buds. This slowed regeneration contributes to changes in taste perception over time.
