Introduction
A numbness on the tongue describes a sensory disorder. The sensory stimuli are perceived in a different way. The numbness is caused by irritation or damage to the nerves.
Furthermore, damage to specific areas of the brain can also cause a sensory disorder. Usually the numbness disappears after a few days. However, if the symptoms persist for longer, a doctor should be consulted.
The causes
Numbness can be caused by damage to nerves. Consequently, the stimulus impulses can no longer be transmitted. A numbness of the tongue is usually caused by an irritation/damage of the trigeminal nerve (5th cranial nerve).
This nerve can be damaged at various points in its course. For example, this nerve can be irritated in the course of an infection of the paranasal sinus or the oral cavity. Furthermore, anaesthesia at the dentist also leads to a numbness of the tongue.
In addition to an impairment of nerve function, damage to specific areas of the brain can also lead to sensitivity disorders. This can be caused by a stroke or multiple sclerosis. Conduction anesthesia describes a local anesthesia of the nerves to enable painless dental treatment.
In this procedure a branch of the trigeminal nerve is anaesthetized with a local anaesthetic (lidocaine). The anesthesia sets in after a few minutes and lasts up to two hours. Usually the muscle power of the lip is weakened and the tongue cannot be moved properly.
The tongue also feels furry and swollen. Eating and drinking is only possible again once the effect of the local anesthetic has worn off. Wisdom tooth surgery may be necessary due to various diseases, such as recurring inflammation or jaw joint pain.
For the operation the affected area is anaesthetized to eliminate pain. Then the wisdom tooth is surgically removed. In most cases, the procedure is performed without complications, but if the tooth is deeply seated, nerves can be damaged.
The stroke is caused by a circulatory disorder in the brain. The circulatory disorder can be caused by arteriosclerotic changes or by blood clots blocking the vessels. Furthermore, a cerebral hemorrhage can also lead to a reduced supply of blood to the tissue.
The affected area is no longer sufficiently supplied with oxygen. The nerve cells die and the tissue dies. Depending on which area is affected, various functional disorders can occur.
An acute numbness of the tongue can indicate a stroke. Furthermore, paralysis, speech and sensitivity disorders can occur. With early therapy and appropriate rehabilitation measures, however, the symptoms can be reduced.
Signs of a stroke? folic acid is an essential vitamin, which is a component of DNA. It controls important processes in the body, including cell reproduction, energy metabolism and fat metabolism.
The latter in particular is important for the formation of cell membranes and myelin sheaths. The myelin sheath forms an envelope around nerves and improves the conductivity of nerve impulses. A prolonged folic acid deficiency causes neurological symptoms because the impulses are transmitted with a delay. Other symptoms, such as anemia and digestive disorders, can also occur.
