Published on: 5/30/2025
What are possible reasons for numbness in the tongue?
Numbness in the tongue can be caused by nerve issues, such as those from strokes or other brain problems, affecting how the tongue feels.
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, it is important to talk to a healthcare professional to find out what might be causing it.
(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.
Tell your friends about us.
We would love to help them too.
For First Time Users
What is Ubie’s Doctor’s Note?
We provide a database of explanations from real doctors on a range of medical topics. Get started by exploring our library of questions and topics you want to learn more about.
Learn more about symptoms
Not sure about the cause of your current symptoms?
Purpose and positioning of servicesUbie Doctor’s Note is a service for informational purposes. The provision of information by physicians, medical professionals, etc. is not a medical treatment. If medical treatment is required, please consult your doctor or medical institution. We strive to provide reliable and accurate information, but we do not guarantee the completeness of the content. If you find any errors in the information, please contact us.