Tongue numbness, medically termed paresthesia, describes an unusual sensation such as tingling, prickling, or a complete loss of feeling. This sensation can arise from various factors, ranging from temporary irritations to more significant underlying health conditions. Understanding the potential causes is important, as it helps distinguish between a harmless experience and a symptom that warrants medical evaluation.
Temporary and Minor Causes
Tongue numbness often stems from common, temporary situations. Dental procedures, for instance, frequently involve local anesthetics that can cause lingering numbness for a few hours. Sometimes, the lingual nerve can experience trauma during these procedures, leading to temporary numbness.
Minor oral injuries are another frequent cause, such as accidentally biting the tongue or burning it with hot food or drinks. These incidents can cause temporary nerve irritation or damage, resulting in tingling or numbness. Canker sores, small mouth ulcers, can also cause localized pain or numbness on the tongue.
Allergic reactions to certain foods, medications, or oral hygiene products can also cause tongue numbness or tingling. Oral allergy syndrome, often linked to pollen allergies, can cause a tingling or itchy sensation in the tongue after consuming specific raw fruits and vegetables. Strong mouthwashes or other oral care products might irritate tongue nerves, leading to transient numbness.
Dehydration can result in tingling of the tongue and a dry mouth sensation. Anxiety or hyperventilation can induce temporary changes in blood chemistry, sometimes leading to tingling or numbness in the tongue. Mild or early nutritional deficiencies, such as a lack of certain B vitamins like B12, can also contribute to a tingling sensation.
Underlying Medical Conditions
More persistent or severe tongue numbness can signal an underlying medical condition. Neurological conditions frequently involve nerve damage that can lead to altered sensations. For example, multiple sclerosis (MS), an autoimmune condition, can cause numbness or a burning sensation in the tongue.
Bell’s palsy, a neurological disorder causing facial weakness or drooping, can also result in numbness on one side of the face and tongue due to facial nerve inflammation. Stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA), often called a “mini-stroke,” can present with sudden numbness or weakness, including in the face or body, and can affect the tongue. While tongue numbness alone is less common as a stroke symptom, it can be a warning sign, particularly if accompanied by other neurological deficits like facial drooping, speech difficulty, or weakness on one side of the body.
Migraines with aura can also cause sensory disturbances, including numbness and tingling that may start in the lips and tongue before spreading. This numbness typically develops gradually over 5-20 minutes and resolves within an hour.
Significant nutritional deficiencies, particularly severe vitamin B12 or folate (B9) deficiencies, can lead to nerve damage and manifest as persistent tongue numbness or tingling. These vitamins are crucial for nerve health, and their prolonged absence can cause neurological symptoms. Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, is another condition that can cause numbness or tingling in the tongue or lips. This occurs because low glucose levels can affect nerve function and brain activity.
Certain medications are known to cause neurotoxicity that can result in tongue numbness or tingling as a side effect. Oral infections or inflammatory conditions can affect nerves in the tongue, leading to numbness. Autoimmune diseases like lupus or Sjögren’s syndrome can also impact nerves throughout the body, including those providing sensation to the tongue.
When to Seek Professional Advice
While many instances of tongue numbness are temporary and harmless, certain signs indicate the need for medical evaluation. Seek immediate professional advice if the numbness has a sudden onset, especially if it appears alongside other neurological symptoms. These include weakness or numbness on one side of the face or body, difficulty speaking, slurred speech, facial droop, or vision changes, as these could signal a stroke or TIA.
Persistent or worsening numbness that does not resolve within a short period, typically a few days, requires medical attention. Numbness accompanied by pain, swelling, difficulty breathing, or problems swallowing also warrants an urgent visit to a healthcare provider. If the numbness interferes with daily activities like eating, drinking, or speaking, a medical assessment is necessary.
Individuals with known underlying health conditions that could be related to nerve issues, such as diabetes or autoimmune disorders, should consult their doctor if they experience new or changing tongue numbness. A doctor will typically perform a physical examination, including a neurological assessment, and may recommend blood tests to check for nutritional deficiencies or other systemic issues. Imaging studies might also be used to investigate potential nerve damage or brain-related causes.