Published on: 5/30/2025
What are potential causes for numbness in the lips?
Numbness in the lips can be caused by various conditions, including dental issues, nerve problems, or other health concerns. It's important to consult a healthcare professional if you experience this symptom, especially if the numbness is persistent or worsening.
Explanation
Lip numbness can happen for various reasons.
Potential Causes:
- Dental Issues: Problems with teeth or gums (like an infection) can sometimes lead to numbness in the lips.
- Nerve Problems: Conditions, surgeries, or dental procedures affecting nerves can cause lip numbness.
- Other Medical Conditions: Persistent, worsening numbness in the lips could be linked to other health problems, which would need further investigation by a doctor.
If lip numbness only happens once in a while and improves without any treatment, it might be worth trying to identify if certain activities or exposures are related to the tingling. For example, causes of temporary lip numbness include cosmetic lip injections or eating some types of spicy food, but lip numbness caused by lip injections or spicy food typically will improve without any treatment.
It's important to pay attention to lip numbness, especially if it gets worse or doesn't go away. Seeing a healthcare provider can help find out what's causing it and how to treat it.
(References)
- Flower EA, & Yeung J. (1989). Lip numbness--sometimes a sinister symptom. British dental journal, 2783852.
- Rabadi MH. (2020). Progressive lip numbness due to numb chin and cheek .... Radiology case reports, 32874399.
- Smith RM, Hassan A, & Robertson CE. (2015). Numb Chin Syndrome. Current pain and headache reports, 26210355.
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