What Causes A Numb Mouth? Symptoms And Treatments

Maybe your like

Medical News TodaySubscribeWhy is my mouth numb?

Medically reviewed by Meredith Goodwin, MD, FAAFP — Written by Danielle Dresden — Updated on January 24, 2025

Definition
Causes
Diagnosis
When to see a doctor
Summary

A numb mouth or tongue can point to several conditions, including burns, a nutrient deficiency, or nerve damage. Mouth numbness can also be a side effect of some medical treatments.

This article outlines the potential causes of a numb mouth, along with their symptoms and treatments. It also provides information about when to see a doctor.

What is mouth numbness?

A woman touches her numb mouth. — Mouth numbness may result from nutrient deficiencies, allergies, or chronic underlying medical conditions.

Numbness is an absence of feeling or sensation. People can experience numbness in just one part of the mouth, such as a tongue. In other cases, it might affect the whole mouth.

Other symptoms that may occur alongside numbness include tingling, burning, or pins and needles.

Causes of a numb mouth

Below are some potential causes of numbness in the mouth.

Burns or scalds

Burns or scalds inside the mouth can happen when a person eats or drinks something that is too hot. Burns can cause a temporary decrease in sensation or a person’s sense of taste. Other symptoms of a burn inside the mouth include:

soreness
bleeding
blistering

Minor burns can get better on their own, but more severe burns may require urgent medical attention.

Learn more about burns on the roof of the mouth.

Vitamin deficiency

The vitamins B12 and B9 (folate) help maintain a healthy nervous system. Because of this, people who have a deficiency in either of these vitamins can experience neurological symptoms, such as pins and needles or numbness.

These symptoms may occur in different parts of the body, including the mouth. Other possible symptoms of a vitamin B12 or B9 deficiency include:

mouth ulcers
a sore, red tongue
depression
memory problems
problems with understanding and judgment

To treat a vitamin B12 or B9 deficiency, a doctor may prescribe the necessary vitamin in the form of pills or injections.

Calcium deficiency

Hypocalcemia is the medical term for low calcium levels. This condition can cause numbness around the mouth. Other symptoms may include cramps, muscle spasms, or seizures.

Hypocalcemia can occur as a result of:

low vitamin D levels
thyroid problems
certain congenital irregularities

To treat hypocalcemia, a doctor will first need to determine the cause. Then, they may suggest calcium supplements, vitamin D supplements, or treatments for thyroid conditions.

Oral allergy syndrome

Oral allergy syndrome, or pollen-food syndrome, is a condition that primarily affects people with hay fever.

In oral allergy syndrome, consuming certain raw foods triggers a local allergic reaction affecting the mouth or throat. This is because the proteins within these foods are similar to the proteins of certain pollens that the person is allergic to.

Some possible symptoms of oral allergy syndrome include:

numbness or irritation of the mouth
hives on the mouth
scratchy throat pain

The best way to manage oral allergy syndrome is to cook the raw foods that trigger the allergic reaction. Cooking the food changes the allergens.

If it is not practical or desirable to cook a particular food, a person should avoid eating it altogether.

Burning mouth syndrome

Burning mouth syndrome is a condition that causes numbness, tingling, or burning sensations in the mouth. It may also alter taste perception. The symptoms may occur daily for months or longer.

There are two types of burning mouth syndrome: primary and secondary.

Primary burning mouth syndrome occurs on its own, while secondary burning mouth syndrome occurs as a result of an underlying medical condition, such as:

a nutritional deficiency
an oral infection
dry mouth
hormonal changes
a metabolic disorder
a food allergy

A person who has burning mouth syndrome may require medications to manage symptoms such as pain and dry mouth.

If a person has secondary burning mouth syndrome, treating the underlying cause should help alleviate the symptoms.

Lingual nerve damage

The lingual nerve provides sensation to the:

lower gums
floor of the mouth
front two-thirds of the tongue

People can sometimes sustain damage to the lingual nerve during a dental procedure. This damage may result in numbness of the mouth.

Most people with lingual injuries find that the condition goes away without treatment within around 3 months.

A 2018 case study found that early treatment of lingual nerve injury with the steroid dexamethasone helped reduce nerve inflammation and assist healing of the lingual nerve.

Diabetes

Diabetes is a chronic metabolic condition in which a person must carefully manage their blood glucose (sugar) levels.

People with diabetes can experience a condition called hypoglycemia, in which their blood glucose levels drop too low. This can result in numbness or tingling of the lips or tongue. Other possible symptoms of hypoglycemia include:

anxiety
tremor
headache
difficulty concentrating
impaired consciousness

Treatment for diabetes depends partly on the type of diabetes a person has. People with type 1 diabetes will require insulin injections to help control their blood glucose levels.

People with type 2 diabetes may also require insulin or other medications to control their blood glucose levels. However, some may be able to manage their blood glucose levels through diet and exercise.

Multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic condition that affects the central nervous system. In MS, the myelin sheath that surrounds and protects the nerve cells degrades. This can cause problems with sensation.

A sensation of numbness or pins and needles is a common symptom of MS.

According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, there are currently no available treatments to relieve the numbness or tingling associated with MS. However, they add that these sensations typically come and go, and a doctor may prescribe a brief course of corticosteroids to speed up recovery.

Oral cancer

According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), numbness of the mouth or tongue can sometimes be a symptom of oral cancer.

Some other possible symptoms of oral cancer include:

a mouth sore that does not heal
a white or red patch in the mouth or on the gums, tongue, or tonsils
a lump or mass in the neck or cheek
difficulty chewing or swallowing
weight loss

Treatment for oral cancer depends on the type of cancer a person has, as well as its stage.

In general, the first treatment for oral cancer will be surgery to remove the tumor. Next, a combination of chemotherapy and radiation therapy may help destroy any remaining cancer cells.

Medical treatments

Certain medications and medical procedures can also cause numbness of the mouth or jaw. Examples include:

certain chemotherapy drugs
radiation therapy to the head or neck
surgical procedures of the mouth, head, or neck

People who experience numbness of the mouth while undergoing a medical treatment should notify their doctor. If possible, the doctor may recommend changing the dosage of the medication or switching to a different medication entirely.

Diagnosis

As there are many potential causes of a numb mouth, diagnosing the cause may require time and a number of different tests.

A doctor will begin by asking about the person’s symptoms and reviewing their medical history. They will then carry out a thorough examination of the mouth.

To assist the diagnosis, the doctor may also order:

blood tests
allergy tests
tissue biopsy
neurological examination
medical imaging tests

When to see a doctor

A person should see a doctor if they experience persistent numbness of the mouth, or if the numbness accompanies other symptoms.

The ACS recommend that people see a doctor or dentist if they experience oral numbness or other oral symptoms for longer than 2 weeks.

Sudden onset of numbness in the mouth can sometimes be a symptom of a severe allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis. A person needs emergency medical attention if their numbness comes on suddenly, especially if they also have shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.

If a person has a known allergy and a prescription epinephrine pen, they should use the device while waiting for the emergency services to arrive.

Summary

Numbness in the mouth may describe a complete or partial absence of feeling. Partial numbness may be accompanied by sensations such as tingling or pins and needles.

There are many potential causes of numbness in the mouth. Examples include nutrient deficiencies, allergies, and chronic underlying medical conditions.

A person should see a doctor if they experience persistent numbness of the mouth, or if the numbness is accompanied by other worrying symptoms.

Allergy
Dentistry
Ear, Nose, and Throat
Neurology / Neuroscience

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Burning mouth syndrome. (2022). https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/health-info/burning-mouth/more-info
Fong J, et al. (2012). Hypocalcemia: Updates in diagnosis and management for primary care. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3279267/
Insulin, medicines, & other diabetes treatments. (2022). https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/insulin-medicines-treatments
Khan MS, et al. (2019). It's on the tip of my tongue! Prolonged paresthesia of the tongue after dental procedure. https://scholarlycommons.henryford.com/neurology_mtgabstracts/117/
Kim S, et al. (2018). Dexamethasone treatment for bilateral lingual nerve injury following orotracheal intubation. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5932991/
Numbness or tingling. (n.d.). https://www.nationalmssociety.org/Symptoms-Diagnosis/MS-Symptoms/Numbness
Overview: Vitamin B12 or folate deficiency anaemia. (2023). https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitamin-b12-or-folate-deficiency-anaemia/
Pollen food allergy syndrome. (2019). https://acaai.org/allergies/types/food-allergies/types-food-allergy/oral-allergy-syndrome
Signs and symptoms of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer. (2021). https://www.cancer.org/cancer/oral-cavity-and-oropharyngeal-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/signs-symptoms.html
Treating oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer. (n.d.).https://www.cancer.org/cancer/oral-cavity-and-oropharyngeal-cancer/treating.html

Share this article

Medically reviewed by Meredith Goodwin, MD, FAAFP — Written by Danielle Dresden — Updated on January 24, 2025

Latest news

How to stay active beyond exercise: 3 medical experts advise
AI model identifies biomarkers to predict prediabetes risk
Time-restricted eating: Study reveals best eating window for metabolism
AI-enhanced stethoscopes help to spot silent heart valve disease
Alzheimer's: Reading, writing, learning new languages may lower risk

Related Coverage

Why is my tongue tingling?Medically reviewed by Heidi Moawad, M.D.
Several potential causes of a tingling tongue include burns, injuries, migraine, multiple sclerosis, and allergies. Learn more.
READ MORE
Why are my lips numb and tingling?Medically reviewed by Avi Varma, MD, MPH, AAHIVS, FAAFP
Causes of numbness and tingling in the lips range from chapping, to allergies, to a stroke and nerve damage. Learn more about the causes and…
READ MORE
What to know about anxiety and facial numbness or tingling
Numbness and tingling sensations are common symptoms of anxiety, and these can also occur in the face. Learn more here.
READ MORE
US vaccine guideline changes challenge clinical practice, insurance coverage
Recent changes to the national immunization schedules have raised questions and caused confusion that could complicate care decisions and coverage…
READ MORE
Is ChatGPT the future of AI medical advice? Expert explains pros and cons
Following the release of ChatGPT Health, due to an increased interest in AI-driven medical guidance, MNT discusses the role of AI health advice with…
READ MORE

Tag » Why Is My Mouth Numb

Health Conditions

Health Products

News

Original Series

Podcasts

General Health

Health Tools

Quizzes

About Medical News Today

Find Community

Follow Us