Mouth numbness is usually temporary. But you should consult your dentist if the sensation lingers.

Have you ever tried chewing your food or speaking only to notice your mouth or lips numb? Although disconcerting at first, loss of sensation in your mouth or lips usually lasts only a few hours. However, the numbness could also indicate a serious medical condition if it lingers.

You may also feel other symptoms besides numbness. Itching, a prickling or tingling sensation, and swelling around the lips, tongue, and gums may accompany the numbness. Your tongue may turn red, or you may notice red or white patches along the mouth and lips. A numb mouth can result from several causes, most of which aren’t severe. Your dentist can examine your mouth and diagnose it, which will lead to successful treatment.

Top nine causes for a numb mouth

Your mouth is packed with nerve endings to help you speak and enjoy food. When those nerves become inflamed, irritated, or damaged, you’ll experience numbness, or as it’s known medically, paresthesia. A doctor can make an exact diagnosis, but the condition may be linked to one of these nine causes:

Allergic Reaction. Numbness and tingling in the mouth and lips may result from oral allergy syndrome. Your body reacts negatively because you may be allergic to a particular fruit or vegetable’s pollen. Avoiding the fruit or vegetable in question keeps the numbness at bay. Or, your doctor can prescribe anti-allergy medications. 

Injury. A trauma to your mouth or simply biting down hard on your tongue can damage nerves and make your mouth feel numb. A cavity can also cause numbness in your mouth. Taking care of the cavity and letting the minor injury heal will relieve the numbness. If the injury is severe, you’ll need medical attention. 

Spicy Foods. Love to eat hot, spicy foods? You may experience a slight burning sensation that leads to temporary numbness. 

Vitamin B Deficiency. Your nerves need B vitamins to function properly. But if you lack B12 vitamin or folic acid in your diet, your mouth may lose the ability to feel. Talk to your doctor or a nutritionist about increasing your intake of foods with B vitamins or taking supplements.

Low Blood Sugar. Low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, interrupts the nerve signals between the brain and the mouth and lips, causing a feeling of numbness. Low blood sugar also produces sweating, anxiety, and hunger. Eating a sugary drink or food can quickly resolve the symptoms. If you are on medication for diabetes, you’ll need to speak to your doctor about adjusting your medications so your blood sugar levels don’t drop too low. A balanced diet of high-fiber foods can also keep your blood sugar levels in check.

Stroke. A stroke blocks blood flow to the brain, resulting in numbness in the mouth and lips, slurred speech, and drooping on one side of the face. A stroke requires immediate medical care. 

Seizures. Epilepsy can affect the brain, causing sensations such as numbness and tingling in the mouth or lips. Treatment for the cause of the seizures can alleviate those symptoms.

Burning Mouth Syndrome. Burning mouth syndrome, seen more often in women than men, causes a burning sensation on the tongue, roof of the mouth, and the lips. Numbness is also a symptom. No cause is yet known for the syndrome, but hormone and vitamin therapy as well as medications, including antidepressants, may reduce the pain. 

Oral Cancer. Cancers of the mouth and throat damage the blood vessels and nerves of the oral cavity. Other signs of oral cancer include soreness in the jaw, tongue, and mouth and difficulty chewing and swallowing. Red patches along the mouth and lips and thick bumps on the tongue or inside the mouth may indicate oral cancer, too. Treatments range from surgery to radiation and chemotherapy.

Treatments for a numb mouth

As mentioned above, the cause of your numb mouth will indicate the appropriate treatment method. Most instances of a numb mouth aren’t severe and resolve in a few hours or days with treatment. To relieve temporary mouth soreness, you can take over-the-counter pain medications or numbing creams. You can also gargle with antiseptic mouthwashes, a salt-water solution, or antihistamine liquids.

If the numbness and pain persist for several days, visit your doctor. They will perform a physical examination and possibly a biopsy of any unusual patches in your mouth. A blood test can determine whether the cause is vitamin B12 deficiency.

Experiencing an usual oral symptom? See your dentist.

Schedule an appointment at Espire’s Norman, OK location today! Our highly trained dentists can check your mouth if you’re experiencing any unusual symptoms, including numbness and pain. 

Don’t live near our Norman office? Find one of our other locations near you.

Norman, OK
550 24th Ave. S.W.
Norman, OK 73069