Numbness around and on the mouth commonly occurs during an allergic reaction to certain foods or chemicals. A cold sore or low calcium levels can also cause the mouth to feel numb. Read on for more information on different causes and how to treat a tingling mouth.
Mouth numbness symptoms
Most people describe numbness as a loss of sensation or feeling in a body part. You may feel numbness in your hand after falling asleep on a crooked arm or numbness in the leg after sitting in the same position for too long; however, numbness around the mouth is not usually a common occurrence. Mouth numbness, also known as perioral numbness, can feel strange and disconcerting. The numbness is often temporary, but unlike being able to find quick relief for symptoms such as hand numbness, perioral numbness may be more difficult to resolve. As a result, it is important to follow-up with your doctor and get appropriate care as soon as you notice symptoms.
Common characteristics of mouth numbness
Characteristics associated with mouth numbness include:
- Paresthesia: The medical term for numbness is paresthesia. Paresthesias are defined as dermal sensations with no apparent physical cause. Paresthesias include sensations such as prickling, tingling, or numbness — sensations many define as “pins and needles.”
- Tetany: Tetany is the medical term for an increase in peripheral neuromuscular irritability. This means that the peripheral nerves, the nerves throughout the body, are overexcited, resulting in repetitive stimulation of the muscles. This hyper-excitability can result in both sensory (paresthesia) and motor (twitching) manifestations. Tetany is a characteristic that results from specific causes that will be discussed later in this article.
Common accompanying symptoms
Mouth numbness can be associated with many different conditions and symptoms can vary. Symptoms associated with mouth numbness may include:
- Fever
- Swelling
- Itching
- Weakness
- Facial pain
- Stiffness
- Clumsiness
- Muscle pain or cramping
- Hyperventilation (breathing very fast)
- Diaphoresis (sweating)
Mouth numbness causes
The cause of these sensations is usually due to transient disruption, pressure, or irritation to nerves in the affected area. Many different conditions can result in such damage, and are categorized into the following groups:
Inflammatory causes
Inflammation is the body’s response to injury and foreign processes. It is the signal for the immune system to activate and work to fix the underlying problem.
- Allergic: If your tongue comes into contact with a food, chemical or substance that your body and immune system recognizes as harmful, it may swell and become tingly and numb due to the reaction. This is your body’s way of saying that it wants you to discontinue ingesting the triggering substance.
- Autoimmune: Many diseases result in the body attacking itself, causing widespread inflammation. These inflammatory diseases can also affect the nerves in and around the mouth and cause injury that results in numbness. Conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis and Lupus are examples of such autoimmune diseases.
- Infectious: Bacterial infections such as Lyme disease and multiple viral infections such as shingles can cause inflammation and nerve injury that results in numbness and paralysis of the face. This paralysis can spread to also include the mouth and around the tongue.
Imbalance/Deficiency causes
There are many electrolytes, vitamins, and other metabolic substances that the body must maintain in balance. This balance is called homeostasis and imbalances in this process can result in side effects such as numbness.
- Vitamin imbalance: There are certain vitamins that are essential to healthy nerve function such as vitamins D and B12. Deficiencies in these vitamins over time can lead to nerve damage and injury. Conversely, exposure to too much vitamin B6 can cause numbness.
- Mineral imbalance: There are certain minerals in the body such as calcium that are essential to the body’s general functioning. Low levels of calcium, called hypocalcemia, can lead to tingling around the mouth and other symptoms such as hyperventilation and muscle cramps.
Systemic disease
Systemic diseases refer to conditions that can affect multiple organ systems and processes.
- Central nervous system: Numbness of the tongue or around the month can often be the signaling symptom of central nervous system conditions such as imminent migraines or strokes.
- Diabetes: Sugar imbalances also affect the way your nerves function, causing numbness and tingling in the mouth, the tongue, and other body parts.
- Hypoparathyroidism: A condition that causes the parathyroid glands to produce less parathyroid hormone. This leads to low levels of calcium in the blood, which can cause numbness or tingling in the mouth.
- Stroke: Blood flow in the brain has been blocked by a clot. Symptoms include weakness, numbness, and paralysis on one side of the face and/or body; slurred speech; abnormal vision; and sudden, severe headache. A mini stroke or transient ischemic attack can cause similar symptoms.
Sores and bites
- Some spiders can cause numbness and more serious reactions like nausea, stomach ache, vomiting, fever, or dizziness.
Anxiety/Stress-related causes
In some individuals, mouth numbness may be a symptom of stress and anxiety. Sometimes panic attacks (abrupt onset of fear or discomfort) can cause symptoms such as heart palpitations and hyperventilation that can cause the same electrolyte disturbances above and result in mouth numbness.
Mouth numbness treatments and relief
At-home treatments
Treatment for mouth numbness is very dependent on the specific cause. If you are experiencing symptoms, it is important to make an appointment with your healthcare provider in order to get the appropriate diagnosis before treating your symptoms at home. Your healthcare provider may suggest the following at-home remedies depending on your diagnosis:
- Mineral imbalance: If a deficiency in a vitamin or mineral is the reason for your mouth numbness, your healthcare provider will suggest supplementation. For example, calcium and vitamin D supplements can be found over-the-counter and can be very effective in treating your symptoms.
- Allergies: If you are experiencing an allergic reaction, stop consuming the triggering substance.
When to see a doctor
If you are experiencing multiple associated symptoms in addition to your mouth numbness such as fever, swelling, muscle or facial pain, this is more of a reason to see your doctor and get an appropriate diagnosis. Your symptoms are more severe and may need more immediate in-hospital care.
When it is an emergency
Mouth numbness can be associated with serious metabolic disturbances that can result in life-threatening complications such as seizures and heart failure. If you experience symptoms of severe difficulty breathing or catching your breath (hyperventilation), seek immediate medical attention.
Furthermore, if you experience any symptoms of speech difficulty, facial drooping, or weakness to the point you cannot other body parts, call 911 immediately. These could be signs of a stroke.
If you experience tongue numbness in addition to wheezing or trouble breathing, difficulty swallowing, throat tightness, or hives, also call 911 immediately. These could be signs of a serious allergic reaction.
Prevention
Preventative strategies include simple remedies such as:
- Proper nutrition: Eating a balanced range of fruits and vegetables that provide adequate vitamins and minerals.
- Maintaining low stress levels: If your symptoms are precipitated by stress, remedies such as yoga, exercise and meditation may help to control symptoms.
FAQs about mouth numbness
What is a panic attack?
Panic attacks are unprompted, discrete episodes of intense fear that happen abruptly and can last anywhere from minutes to an hour. Some people can experience recurrent episodes and suffer from panic disorder.
Is numbness of the mouth a sign of a stroke?
Sudden-onset numbness anywhere in the body, but especially the face and extremities, can be a sign of stroke and requires immediate medical attention. Here is a quick way to remember the signs of stroke and what to do: Act “FAST”
- F - FACE: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
- A - ARMS: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
- S - SPEECH: Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is their speech slurred or strange?
- T - TIME: If you observe any of these signs, call 9-1-1 immediately.
Can numbness in the mouth be associated with anxiety?
Numbness and tingling in places like the mouth and fingers are common symptoms of anxiety and stress. These symptoms can precipitate episodes of anxiety but can also occur due to manifestations of anxiety such as hyperventilation.
What are the symptoms of anaphylaxis?
Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction. Symptoms can start out as mild and include signs such as rash or runny nose, but can quickly progress to serious symptoms such as trouble breathing, swelling, throat tightness, hives, nausea, and/or vomiting.
What type of supplements should I take to prevent mouth numbness?
Numbness of the mouth and around the mouth can be precipitated by low calcium in the blood (hypocalcemia). Supplements such as calcium and vitamin D can help treat hypocalcemia and your symptoms. Depending on the specific cause of your symptoms, you may take the supplements for a short period of time or long term.
Questions your doctor may ask about mouth numbness
- Where in your mouth are you numb?
- Does your throat feel itchy or irritated?
- Do you have a rash?
- Relax your face. Have someone else tap the corner of your mouth. Does your lip or face twitch with each tap? (This is known as Chvostek's sign.)
Self-diagnose with our free Buoy Assistant if you answer yes on any of these questions.
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References
- Fong J, Khan A. Hypocalcemia: updates in diagnosis and management for primary care. Can Fam Physician. 2012;58(2):158-62. NCBI Link
- Levin MC. Numbness. Merck Manual Consumer Version. Updated November 2016. Merck Manual Consumer Version Link
- Diabetic Neuropathy. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. NIDDK Link
- Act FAST. National Stroke Association. National Stroke Association Link
- Anaphylaxis. American College of Allergy Asthma & Immunology. Reviewed Jan. 29, 2018. ACAAI Link