What are possible reasons for numbness in the tongue?

Reviewed by Yoshinori Abe, MD

Internal Medicine

Tongue numbness (lingual paresthesia) is most often caused by nerve-related issues affecting sensation in the tongue. Common causes include stroke, transient ischemic attack (TIA), multiple sclerosis, or damage to the lingual or glossopharyngeal nerves. Other triggers may include vitamin B12 deficiency, low calcium levels, allergic reactions, dental procedures, or migraines. Because tongue numbness can sometimes signal a serious neurological event like a stroke, sudden or persistent symptoms should never be ignored.

Since the causes range from mild to medically urgent, identifying the source of your tongue numbness quickly is important. A fast, free symptom check can help you understand possible causes based on your specific symptoms and guide you on the right next steps—whether that's monitoring at home, seeing a doctor, or seeking emergency care. Take a moment now to get clarity and peace of mind.

Reviewed for medical accuracy: 07/14/2026

Important Next Steps

Learn what may be causing tongue numbness Discover if your tongue numbness needs care See if tongue numbness could be serious Find OTC options for tongue numbness relief Find a doctor for tongue numbness Explore home remedies for tongue numbness Understand likely causes of tongue numbness

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Explanation

Numbness in the tongue can happen for different reasons. Sometimes, it may be due to problems with the nerves that help you feel things with your tongue. For example, if someone has a stroke, it can affect one side of the brain, which might cause numbness on one side of the tongue. This is because the brain controls how we feel things, and if part of it is not working right, it can make the tongue feel numb.

Here are some possible reasons for tongue numbness:

Nerve Issues: Problems with the nerves in the brain or the tongue itself can lead to numbness. This might happen if there is a stroke or another brain problem.
Specific Areas: Sometimes, only the tip of the tongue feels numb. This can also happen if there are issues with how the brain is working.

If you or someone you know is experiencing numbness in the tongue, you can use our free symptom checker to help identify potential causes and determine whether you should talk to a healthcare professional.

(References)

Sadler RM, Curran T, & Pryse-Phillips WE. (1986). Numbness of half of the tongue. The Canadian journal of neurological sciences. Le journal canadien des sciences neurologiques, 3719463.
Shimohata M, Watanabe Y, & Tanaka H. (2014). Numbness in the tip of the tongue and lower lip caused by .... Journal of stroke and cerebrovascular diseases : the official journal of National Stroke Association, 23602113.
Chen WH, Yin HL, Lui CC, & Lin HS. (2011). Isolated numbness of the tip of the tongue in hemispheric .... Oral surgery, oral medicine, oral pathology, oral radiology, and endodontics, 21497526.

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