Tongue numbness, or paresthesia, is a sensation involving a loss or alteration of feeling in the tongue. While often temporary and harmless, it can sometimes indicate an underlying health issue. Understanding its various causes helps determine when medical evaluation is needed.
Everyday Triggers
Tongue numbness often arises from common, transient experiences. Consuming extremely cold foods or drinks, such as ice cream, can temporarily numb the tongue’s surface. This effect typically subsides quickly as the tongue warms. Eating highly acidic foods, like certain candies or citrus fruits, might also cause a temporary tingling or numbing sensation.
Accidental injuries to the tongue, such as biting it while eating or speaking, are another common cause of temporary numbness. This minor trauma can briefly disrupt nerve signals in the affected area. Such numbness usually resolves on its own within a short period as the tissue heals. These everyday occurrences generally result in a fleeting loss of sensation, which is not a cause for alarm.
Systemic Health Conditions
Tongue numbness can stem from various internal medical conditions that impact the nervous system or overall bodily functions. Neurological conditions, where there is damage to the nerves, can manifest as numbness or tingling in the tongue. Multiple sclerosis (MS), an autoimmune disorder affecting the brain and spinal cord, can cause tongue numbness or a burning sensation.
Nutritional deficiencies also contribute to tongue numbness. A lack of certain B vitamins, particularly B12 and B9 (folate), affects nerve health and can lead to neurological symptoms like numbness or “pins and needles” sensations. Hypocalcemia, or low calcium levels in the blood, can also cause numbness and tingling around the mouth, along with muscle cramps and spasms.
Conditions affecting blood sugar levels are another potential cause. Hypoglycemia, or low blood glucose, can lead to numbness or tingling in the lips, tongue, or cheeks. This occurs because low blood sugar can disrupt nerve function. Diabetes, over time, can cause nerve damage known as diabetic neuropathy, which may present as tingling or numbness in the hands, feet, and sometimes the tongue.
Cerebrovascular events like a stroke or a transient ischemic attack (TIA) can also lead to tongue numbness or tingling. Migraines, particularly those with aura, can include sensory symptoms like numbness and tingling in the lips and tongue, which may spread to other areas of the face and hand. These sensations typically develop gradually and resolve within about an hour.
External Influences
Tongue numbness can also result from external factors, including medical procedures, allergic reactions, or certain medications. Dental procedures often involve local anesthesia, which temporarily numbs the tongue, lips, and surrounding areas. The duration of this numbness depends on the type of anesthetic used, typically lasting between one to eight hours.
Allergic reactions to foods or other substances can cause oral allergy syndrome, leading to numbness or tingling in the mouth and tongue. This reaction happens when proteins in certain foods are similar to pollens to which a person is allergic. In more severe cases, a widespread allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) can cause swelling and numbness in the mouth, accompanied by breathing difficulties and hives.
Certain medications can also list tongue numbness as a side effect. Drugs across various categories, including some used for blood pressure, chemotherapy, or certain anti-infectives, have been associated with altered tongue sensations. If tongue numbness occurs after starting a new medication, it is important to discuss this with a healthcare provider.
When to Seek Medical Attention
While many instances of tongue numbness are temporary and harmless, certain signs warrant medical evaluation. Persistent numbness that does not resolve within a reasonable timeframe, especially if it lasts for more than a few days or weeks, should prompt a visit to a healthcare professional. Numbness accompanied by other neurological symptoms, such as sudden weakness or paralysis on one side of the body, vision changes, slurred speech, or difficulty walking, could indicate a stroke or other serious condition and requires immediate emergency care.
If tongue numbness follows a significant injury or trauma, or if it is accompanied by severe pain, swelling, or blistering, seeking prompt medical attention is advisable. Any numbness that interferes with daily activities like eating, speaking, or swallowing, or if it is part of a broader set of symptoms that are worsening or causing concern, should be discussed with a doctor to determine the underlying cause and appropriate course of action.