Hello, This is describes a condition possible for someone who smokes, has a fungal infection and needs better oral hygiene habits. The coating on the tongue is an irritation that can cause the papillea to elongate. These are not your taste buds. Brushing your tongue and improving your basic daily dental care can often help resolve this. You already have seen improvement. If the papillae do not return to normal, they can be trimmed to reduce them further by your dentist. Avoiding irritants such as smoking is strongly recommended. The texture of the tongue changes to a smoother surface as you go further back. If you have inflammation due to an oral yeast infection or thrush, you can have swelling and redness. It often affects the surface of the tongue and your taste. Even with your initial reaction of extra saliva, now you most likely have less saliva and the consistancy has changed. A dry mouth is common. Treatment with Nystatin or other anti-fungal treatments can aleviate these symptoms. I recommend that you try these steps. See your dentist for a prescription and definite diagnosis. Warm salt water rinses, keeping well hydrated with a balanced healthy diet and vitamins can offer relief. Acidodphillus may help rebalance your oral bacteria. You may have other medical conditons such as acid reflux or medications that have contributed to your symptoms. If your symtoms do not resolve other conditions should be considered and your tongue further evaluated. Make sure you are up to date with your dental exam and cleaning. I hope these steps are helpful to you and thank you for your inquiry.