Why Is My Tongue Tingling? Causes, Treatment, and More (2024)

A tingling tongue is an unusual sensation that may feel like prickling, “pins or needles,” or sometimes burning on the tongue. It can occur due to mild or temporary causes, as well as serious underlying conditions.Some clinicians may refer to tingling as paresthesia — a burning, tingling, or prickling sensation. Paresthesia is typically painless, however, additional symptoms of discomfort may accompany tingling depending on the underlying cause.

A tingling tongue may also present as numbness or decreased feeling of pressure, taste, or texture.

This article will explain the causes of a tingling tongue and additional related symptoms. It will also discuss the treatment and possible complications of a tingling tongue, as well as answer some frequently asked questions.

Some allergies can cause tingling in your mouth or tongue during an allergic reaction or anaphylaxis, a more severe and potentially life threatening allergic reaction. This can happen due to the inflammatory immune response that your body triggers after exposure to an allergen.

Other symptoms of an allergic reaction include:

• mouth or tongue swelling
• swelling or tingling in other areas of the body
• narrowing or closing of the throat
• wheezing or coughing
• difficulty breathing
• chest tightness
• hives or rash
• itching
• redness or discoloration of the skin
• vomiting, diarrhea, or cramps

Seek emergency medical attention for any severe symptoms of allergies or anaphylaxis, especially difficulty breathing.

Some people may also experience oral allergy syndrome (OAS). This is when a person experiences an allergy to pollen. It can occur both due to direct exposure to pollen and through eating fruits and vegetables which contain the same proteins as the pollen.

OAS can cause mouth and throat itchiness or swelling, which may feel like a tingling sensation.

Learn more about allergies, including the types and what allergens may cause reactions.

Burning mouth syndrome is a condition that causes painful sensations in the mouth, such as burning, scalding, or tingling feelings.

There are two types Trusted Source National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research Governmental authority Go to source of BMS. If it occurs on its own or due to nerve damage, it’s known as primary BMS. If it’s the result of an underlying medical condition, it’s considered secondary BMS.

Causes of BMS include:

• nerve damage
• oral habits like teeth grinding or jaw clenching
• dry mouth
• hormonal changes such as due to diabetes or thyroid conditions
• allergies
• depression
• oral infection
• acid reflux
• nutritional deficiencies
• certain medications

Sometimes a lack of certain nutrients can lead to symptoms of a tingling tongue or BMS.

In fact, a 2016 study suggests that tongue tingling or paresthesia can occur due to having lower levels of vitamin B12.

Other symptoms of low vitamin B12 include:

• swelling, cracking, or redness of the tongue
• fatigue
• palpitations
• paleness
• numbness or tingling in other areas, such as the hands and feet
• unintentional weight loss
• symptoms of anemia, such as:
  • breathlessness
  • frequent headaches
  • irritability
  • changes in appetite or food cravings
  • a drop in blood pressure when standing up from resting

Canker sores are painful yellow or white sores that occur on the inside of the mouth, typically Trusted Source National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research Governmental authority Go to source on the tongue, cheeks, or lips.

Clinicians are not yet sure why they occur, but it is believed that they may occur due to factors such as:

• injury
• stress
• smoking
• deficiencies in vitamin B12, iron, or folic acid

Canker sores can cause a burning or tingling feeling in the affected area before the sore starts to form.

Low blood sugar levels, also known as hypoglycemia, can result in numbness or tingling of the tongue, lips, or cheeks.

Other signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia include:

• feeling shaky, lightheaded, or dizzy
• sweating
• chills
• confusion
• irritability
• fast heartbeat
• weakness or fatigue
• paleness
• headaches
• nausea or hunger

Low levels of calcium in the blood, known as hypocalcemia, may also cause paresthesia or tingling of the tongue, lips, fingers, and feet.

As symptoms of hypocalcemia can be very similar to symptoms of other deficiencies and conditions, your doctor may request blood tests to look for further signs of illness and diagnose the underlying cause.

Some people with migraine experience sensory symptoms. This can include migraine aura, which refers to the temporary sensory symptoms that occur shortly before a migraine episode.

While symptoms of an aura can include tingling in the tongue, lips, or face, the sensation may first start in one hand and then move up the body to the face before affecting the tongue.

Other symptoms of a migraine aura can include:

• visual changes, such as seeing flashing lights
• auditory symptoms, such as tinnitus
• dizziness or lack of balance

Some people may experience aura without developing migraine pain or headache.

Some people with epilepsy have reported tongue tingling or tongue tremors as an uncommon Trusted Source PubMed Central Highly respected database from the National Institutes of Health Go to source effect of epileptic seizures. This can occur due to focal seizures, although researchers from a 2021 case study have observed the effect in other types of childhood epilepsy.

Symptoms may include tingling, numbness or paresthesia, or uncontrolled movements of the tongue, such as twitching.

Learn more about epilepsy, including its types and symptoms.

Strokes and TIAs can cause facial drooping, numbness, or paresthesia.

While it is not a typical symptom of stroke, researchers from a 2013 study Trusted Source PubMed Central Highly respected database from the National Institutes of Health Go to source observed cases of numbness in the tip of the tongue due to stroke.

If you experience symptoms of facial or tongue paresthesia alongside other symptoms of stroke or TIA, this could be a warning sign that indicates you are experiencing a stroke.

Other stroke symptoms include face drooping, arm weakness, and difficulty speaking.

Learn more about stroke and its symptoms.

Any damage to the nerves related to the mouth or face may result in symptoms of paresthesia such as numbness or tingling in the tongue.

This can include Trusted Source PubMed Central Highly respected database from the National Institutes of Health Go to source damage from dental or oral procedures, injury, and certain neurological conditions such as multiple sclerosis (MS).

Other early symptoms of MS can include:

• vision impairments
• fatigue
• muscle or mobility problems

Contact your doctor if you experience tongue tingling or numbness following an oral procedure or injury to the mouth or face, or alongside other symptoms.

Other conditions and factors may cause tongue tingling, paresthesia in the face, or other symptoms that affect the tongue’s sensations and function.

Some additional causes include:

• taking certain medications, including anesthesia
• Raynaud’s disease
• radiation and radiation therapy
• poisoning or chemical toxicity

Contact your doctor for any symptoms of a tingling tongue or other oral symptoms that do not improve within a day or two, keep recurring, or are affecting your quality of life.

It is also a good idea to reach out to a doctor as soon as possible if you are having any symptoms of a tingling tongue along with other symptoms of an illness.

Treatments for your tongue tingling will depend on what is causing it. Doctors will first seek to diagnose and address the condition that is causing your symptoms.

Some causes of tongue tingling may be easily treated with minimal clinical intervention, or even at home. For example, mild nutritional deficiencies could be resolved with dietary changes and supplements.

Mild allergies can often be managed by avoiding exposure to the allergen or taking an over-the-counter antihistamine.

However, since causes of paresthesia also include serious conditions, your treatment plan may involve managing the condition and your symptoms, rather than curing it. Your doctor can recommend treatment approaches that help relieve any continuous or severe symptoms and improve your quality of life.

Contact your doctor for an individual outlook of what you can expect from your particular condition and treatment plan.

Below are some frequently asked questions about tingling tongue.

Your tongue might feel fuzzy or odd for a number of reasons, including benign or temporary causes, as well as more serious conditions.

Causes of a fuzzy-feeling tongue include:

• improper oral hygiene
• burning mouth syndrome
• dry mouth
• migraine
• nerve conditions or damage

COVID tongue refers to tongue and mouth symptoms some people have reported during a case of COVID-19. Symptoms reported include:

• dry mouth
• soreness or inflammation of the tongue
• dysgeusia, changes to the perception of taste
• lesions in the mouth

Researchers from a 2022 case report note that further investigation is necessary to completely understand “COVID tongue,” but that it may occur due to the inflammation the infection causes.

There is not a lot of data to suggest a link between tongue tingling and the consumption of pineapple. However, one 2019 study found that an enzyme in pineapple can cause a reaction in some people, leading to a tingling sensation.

Your tongue may tingle for many reasons — ranging from temporary or easily resolved to more serious conditions.

Some possible causes of tongue tingling include burning mouth syndrome, an allergic reaction, a migraine episode, and nerve damage. Treatment and outlook will depend on the underlying cause.

Clinicians may refer to tingling in the tongue as paresthesia, which describes any unusual sensations like prickling or burning.

Seek emergency medical care for symptoms of a severe allergic reaction or stroke.