Causes of numbness of the tongue and when is it a danger indicator?

Numbness of the tongue is one of the famous medical conditions that many may be exposed to without clear reasons, and because it is a very difficult and annoying problem, we decided to explain this case to you as a whole in its details so that you know its causes and what it indicates and the best treatment for it, so follow this article with us.

What is numbness of the tongue?

This condition expresses a feeling of tingling and numbness in the tongue, an annoying condition in which the cause may be due to damage to one of the nerves and the absence of sensation in the region of the tongue and its numbness.

Mostly, people can be exposed to this condition when performing one of the various dental procedures or surgeries, such as implantation or tooth extraction, especially wisdom teeth, and other reasons.

Causes of numbness of the tongue

There are some reasons for feeling numbness and tingling in the tongue, and these reasons include the following:

1- Nerve damage

Often this is the main reason, as damage occurs in one of the nerves, especially the lingual nerve, which is the nerve responsible for the front of the tongue and feeding the tongue, and this injury often occurs as a result of various dental procedures.

But in particular, this damage occurs with the removal of the wisdom tooth in the lower jaw, and thus the feeling of numbness, numbness, and tingling in the tongue unusually. Sometimes it occurs on one side of the tongue, and sometimes the tongue as a whole. These symptoms can extend to the chin and lips as well, and this condition may affect your sense of taste.

This condition in the vast majority is temporary, and improves within about 8 weeks, but if it continues for more than 6 months, you will need to consult a doctor and treatment.

2- Allergic reactions

There is a group of people who may be susceptible to allergic reactions to certain drinks or different foods, and this condition increases if the person has hay fever, as this may expose him to symptoms such as itching, tingling, and numbness in the tongue area, as well as the mouth as a whole and the throat area as well.

This oral allergy comes from eating some raw fruits or vegetables because they contain proteins with elements similar to the proteins found in pollen.

You should consider consulting a specialist doctor in the event of exacerbation of symptoms and the inability to control them, or in the event of symptoms of anaphylaxis such as rash, swelling of the throat and difficulty breathing, because this condition may threaten your life and there must be prompt medical care for the case.

3- Ulcers

Exposure to various mouth ulcers, whether they appear on the tongue or lips from the inside, may be a major cause of exposure to numbness of the tongue and mouth, and exposure to pain and tingling as well. These sores improve within about a week of their appearance.

4- A drug reaction

There are some medicines, especially those that are taken orally, that may cause side effects if used, including tingling and numbness of the tongue, so you should review the side effects of any medicine you use in order to avoid any complications that you may experience.

And the case of numbness of the tongue resulting from the medications, it may disappear and improve when you stop taking these medications directly, but if this side effect persists, it is better to refer to a specialized doctor and consult him.

5- Burns of the tongue

It is possible, in the event of exposure to burning or stinging of the tongue when drinking, that eating hot food, that this will cause you to feel tingling and pain, so in this case try to keep rinsing the mouth and tongue with cold water frequently in order to reduce the pain and discomfort resulting from this condition.

6- Stroke

A stroke is a condition that occurs when the blood flow to the brain region is interrupted, and this exposes the cells to damage and negatively affects the memory and muscles. Numbness, numbness, tingling of the tongue, and you notice some other signs associated with a stroke, this is a signal to seek immediate medical help.

7- Multiple sclerosis

If you have multiple sclerosis (MS), the nerves that are exposed to inflammation may stop working normally and correctly, and this makes you vulnerable to tingling and pain in different areas of your body, such as the tongue.

8- Anemia or anemia

Anemia can also expose you to various tongue problems such as red sores and tingling due to a deficiency of vitamin B12 in your body, and this condition requires treatment to control its symptoms.

9- Numbness of the tongue and diabetes

If you are exposed to a problem of hypo or low blood sugar, you may feel tingling and numbness in the area of ​​the lips and tongue, and people with diabetes are more susceptible to this problem than others, so it is better to keep checking blood glucose levels and levels, and consult a doctor immediately in case of exposure to problems in the blood The tongue, especially the sudden tingling.

10- Migraine

In the case of exposure to a migraine, this condition may be accompanied by other symptoms that may be sensory or visual, and for this reason some people may experience a feeling of tingling and numbness, whether in the face in general or in the tongue in particular, and sometimes in the body as a whole with the case of migraine.

When should you consult a doctor?

This condition is often considered occasional and is expected to disappear with the passage of days or weeks since the onset of feeling it, but in the event that this condition continues for a longer period than that and begins to affect the jaw or lips area, in this case you must refer directly to the specialist doctor to assess the condition and guide you To optimally deal with the problem of numbness of the tongue.

Tongue numbness treatment

Treatment is carried out according to the condition that causes numbness of the tongue, for example:

  • Medical treatment from a doctor who specializes in nerve damage.
  • Use antihistamines in case of allergies and rinse the mouth with water frequently.
  • For canker sores, you may use a mouthwash or some over-the-counter medication.
  • Use of anti-inflammatory drugs in case of tongue burns.
  • Treating diseases that cause numbness, such as stroke, anemia, and migraine.

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