Tingling Tongue? Here’s Why It Happens & How to Treat It

Have you ever noticed a strange numbness or tingling sensation in your tongue? The kind that makes you wonder why your tongue feels weird. A tingling tongue tends to feel strange and unsettling, often like a mild buzz on the tip of your tongue. Some cases even involve an odd numb feeling, or a sensation of disorder in your tongue's movement.

While these feelings are typically harmless and tend to pass on their own, a tingling tongue that won't go away can be a sign of a more serious underlying issue. This guide will explore why your tongue feels weird, what the causes could be for that tingling tongue, and how you can properly manage and treat one.

Common Causes of a Tingling Tongue

A tingling tongue or tongue numbness can happen for a variety of reasons. Some can be as simple as irritation from something you ate, while other causes can be serious medical conditions. Here is a breakdown of some of the most common causes:

Allergic Reactions

Food-related allergies are an extremely common cause of a tingling tongue. Your immune system can easily start reacting to foods like nuts, shellfish, and kiwi. These foods can release compounds known as histamines, which often cause a numbness in your tongue, lips, or mouth. If your tongue feels weird or starts to swell up after you have a meal, you should seek medical help immediately; you could be having a serious allergic reaction called anaphylaxis.

Nutritional Deficiencies

That tingling sensation in your tongue could be your body's way of telling you that you're lacking in some aspect of your diet. Nutrients like vitamin B12, folate, and iron are all absolutely essential for your nerves to function properly. Being deficient in these essential nutrients can sometimes cause a strange “pins and needles” sensation in your tongue.

Oral Irritation or Burns

Sometimes there is no underlying cause, and the issue remains simple: you burnt your tongue. Usually, the result of consuming extremely hot foods and drinks, your tongue is covered in extremely sensitive tissue that can easily cause that fuzzy or tingling feeling when irritated. Additionally, it isn't just a temperature issue; particularly spicy or acidic foods can also lead to the same feeling.

Nerve Damage (Neuropathy)

Your nerves are responsible for the sensory input and movement of your tongue. If your nerves are damaged from trauma, dental procedures, or some sort of underlying health issue, it can cause a numb tongue or a tingling sensation. Take diabetic neuropathy, for example, it can damage your sensory nerves with ease, which can cause a variety of disruptive complications.

Anxiety or Panic Attacks

You may be surprised to hear that excessive stress or anxiety can lead to a tingling tongue. If your body kicks into its fight or flight mode, it can alter your blood flow and nerve activity, which can occasionally cause numbness in your tongue or lips. If your tongue feels weird when you're extremely stressed out, you can try some deep breathing exercises or relaxation techniques to soothe yourself.

Oral Infections and Inflammation

Some oral infections, such as oral thrush (a fungal infection), can irritate your tongue and lead to an uncomfortable numbness or tingling. Other oral health issues, such as gingivitis and cavities, can add to this, worsening the infection and the way your tongue feels.

Nerve Compression or Injury

People who have recently had an orthodontic procedure performed, particularly the removal of wisdom teeth or jaw surgery, may experience temporary tongue numbness because of nerve irritation. This usually passes as you heal from your procedure, but it should be addressed by a dentist if it persists.

Medication Side Effects

Medications for blood pressure-related issues, epilepsy, and chemotherapy can have a disruptive effect on your nerves. This includes a tingling tongue. If your medication is indeed the culprit, you must consult with your healthcare provider before altering dosage or stopping any medication.

Hormonal Changes

The erratic nature of hormones during pregnancy, menopause, and various thyroid disorders can occasionally cause the tip of your tongue to tingle. This usually passes once your hormones settle and remain stable for a time; it’s still best to consult with a medical professional if the issue persists.

When Is a Tingling Tongue Serious

You may be wondering if a tingling tongue is a serious concern. In most cases, it's a totally benign issue that passes on its own, but if it's accompanied by other adverse symptoms, you may have a problem on your hands. You should immediately get professional medical help if your tongue numbness is paired with:

• Sudden weakness or drooping of your face.
• Trouble speaking normally or swallowing food.
• Confusion, nausea, and dizziness.
• Severe swelling of your tongue or throat.

In some rare cases, a numb tongue can be a symptom of a stroke, particularly if it happens alongside noticeable neurological decline, such as weakness on one side of your body or incomprehensible slurred speech. If you think your symptoms line up with any of this, you need to treat it as a medical emergency and call an ambulance.

How to Get Rid of a Tingling Tongue

The treatment of a tingling tongue is entirely dependent on the underlying cause of the issue. Here is a general overview of how you can go about treating a tingling tongue:

• Address the Underlying Cause: Step one is to figure out what's behind the tingling sensation. A medical professional will probably run some tests to rule out more serious concerns while checking for vitamin deficiencies, allergies, and nerve damage.
• Nutritional Supplements: If the tongue tingling is a result of low B12 or iron, starting to take some supplements and making changes to your diet can make a difference. Foods such as eggs, dairy, and lean meats are extremely rich in these essential nutrients.
• Manage Allergies: Steer clear of things you know would give you an allergic reaction, and hold onto some antihistamines for soothing mild reactions. For extreme cases, you should be fully prepared, carry an epinephrine auto-injector (EpiPen) with you for emergencies.
• Reduce Stress: If anxiety is making your tongue feel weird, start looking into practices such as mindfulness, meditation, and slow breathing techniques. These methods can make it much easier for your body to respond to stress and can soothe symptoms associated with your nerves, such as a tingling tongue.
• Oral Hygiene and Hydration: A dry mouth with excess bacterial accumulation can easily cause a tingling tongue. Try to drink plenty of water and brush your tongue often; additionally, an alcohol free mouthwash can help your mouth stay healthy.
• Avoid Irritants: Smoking, heavy alcohol consumption, and foods that are very acidic can make your tongue numbness significantly worse. Not consuming these damaging irritants can ease most of your symptoms.

Making use of these methods can help soothe a problematic tongue, though it's good to remember that if your issue persists or worsens, it might be time for a doctor's visit.

When to See a Doctor or Dentist

Despite most of the causes of a tingling tongue being harmless, you should still visit a medical professional if the sensation:

• Persists for more than a few days.
• Is paired with tongue numbness and swelling.
• Causes issues with eating food or conversing.
• Is accompanied by other neurological symptoms.

A dentist will be able to rule out serious oral infections or nerve damage, whereas a general physician can look into the issue from a broader perspective, evaluating you for all sorts of underlying causes.

Tingling Tongue: Often Benign, Sometimes Serious

A tingling tongue may feel strange or alarming at first, but you can rest easy because it's mostly not a serious concern. It can be related to some mild irritation, vitamin deficiencies, or can be a reaction to external factors such as allergies or orthodontic procedures. Being aware of the exact cause is a priority, as it allows you to rule out severe complications and treat the odd sensation effectively.