Why do my taste buds flare up while cleaning tounge?

What you see as swollen patches could be just fungiform papillae(taste buds). They are normal and interspersed between abundant and slightly pale 'filiform' papillae.Tongue cleaning can increase blood supply and make them appear more red just after cleaning. The size of the patch can tell more to prompt other pathologies. It's not possible to be sure of anything unless it's examined. Vigorous tongue cleaning is injurious to the taste buds. Try changing your tongue cleaner or skip cleaning and observe your taste buds. Compare with the taste buds of other people at home. It could be simply normal.