Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHow It FeelsHow Anxiety May Affect ItTreatmentWhen to Seek Medical CarePreventionFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
How It Feels
How Anxiety May Affect It
Treatment
When to Seek Medical Care
Prevention
Frequently Asked Questions
Paresthesia(a tingling, numbness, skin crawling, or itching feeling) is one of the physical symptoms that can occur with anxiety andpanic attacks. It can be experienced in the hands, feet, arms, legs, face, lips, or tongue.
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What Does a Tingling Tongue Feel Like?
“Tingling” is somewhat of a vague term. Oral paresthesia can also feel like:
The sensation can range in from mild to severe, come in waves, and can affect one part or the whole tongue. A person may notice the symptom more when going to sleep or when first waking.
Why Do I Feel Tingling in My Face?
Other Ways Anxiety May Affect Your Tongue
Anxiety can also cause other mouth and tongue symptoms, including the following.
Numbness
Numbnessis one way paresthesia can manifest. It can happen on its own, or alternate with other sensations such as tingling, burning, or stinging.
Pushing Your Tongue Against Your Teeth
High levels of anxietycan cause stress-induced habits in the mouth such as jaw clenching,teeth grinding, and pressing the tongue against the teeth.
Chewing Your Tongue
Regularly chewing the tongue or inside of the cheek is a habit that can develop in response to increased stress levels and may be a sign of an underlying problem such as ananxiety disorder. If it continues, the tongue or cheek tissue could become damaged.
Biting in Sleep
Stress and anxiety are a common cause ofbruxism(teeth grinding). Teeth grinding is particularly common in children and teenagers, especially during sleep. It often stops once they reach adulthood, but some adults also grind their teeth.
Scalloped Tongue
Habits such as pressing the tongue against the teeth and teeth grinding can lead to scalloped tongue.
The main symptom of scalloped tongue is distinct wavy edges on the tongue that resemble the edges of a pie crust.
Treatment for tongue tingling that is due to anxiety typically meanstreating the anxietydirectly. This usually involves psychotherapy, medication, or a combination of both. Stress management techniques may also help.
Psychotherapy
Forms of psychotherapy (talk therapy) that may be used to treat anxiety include:
Medication
Medication that be used to help manage anxiety symptoms include:
Stress Management Techniques
Breathing exercisesmay help manage stress, especially if performed regularly. Several techniques exist, but here are two to try.
Breathing Technique:Deep Breathing
Breathing Technique:Belly Breathing
In addition to professional treatment, there are some measures you can take to help manage anxiety symptoms such as tongue tingling. These include:
Summary
Oral symptoms such as tongue tingling can result from anxiety orstress.
Tongue tingling and associated symptoms can be a sign of other health conditions, too, so it’s important to see a healthcare provider for a proper diagnosis.
Treatment for tongue tingling that is due to anxiety involves treating the anxiety itself. This is typically done through psychotherapy (such as CBT or ACT), medications (such as SSRIs or SNRIs), or a combination of both.
Stress management techniquescan also be used to help manage anxiety symptoms.
A Word From Verywell
If you find your tongue feels strange when you areworried or stressed, you may be experiencing a physicalsymptom of anxiety. Talk to your healthcare provider about your tongue tingling or any other oral symptoms to get a proper diagnosis and put together a treatment plan.
You should see a healthcare provider if you have a tingling tongue to determine its cause. This is especially important if:It lasts for several days without improvement.Symptoms and sensations have no obvious explanation.The sensation spreads, or it becomes a recurring issue.It leads to more symptoms or other health problems.It is affecting your functioning, such as eating, drinking, or talking.Call 911 if:You or someone you are with is showingsigns of a stroke(a stroke can cause weakness in the tongue or affect the control of the tongue).The tongue is swelling or there are other signs of ananaphylactic reaction.You think it’s an emergency.
You should see a healthcare provider if you have a tingling tongue to determine its cause. This is especially important if:
Call 911 if:
If the tongue tingling is due to anxiety, it may come and go. The best way to manage anxiety symptoms such as tongue tingling is totreat the anxiety itself.
15 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Bhatia MS.Psychogenic lingual paresthesia. JCDR. Published online 2015. doi:10.7860/JCDR/2015/11916.5897Milltain.Tingling, prickling or numbness. How to solve it?National Institute of Mental Health.Anxiety disorders.American Academy of Family Physicians.Burning mouth syndrome.Anxietycentre.Tongue tingly, numb, itchy, twitching symptoms.Jauhal Dental.Why is my tongue tingling.AK Dentistry.Why does my tongue feel numb?AZ Dentist.Scalloped tongue.RDH.Tongue chewing: Causes, treatments, and information for patients.National Health Service.Teeth grinding (bruxism).National Health Service.Breathing exercises for stress.Harvard Health.Ease anxiety and stress: Take a (belly) breather.Anxiety & Depression Association of America.Tips to manage anxiety and stress.Periodontal Associates, LLC.Numbing or tingling tongue sensation.Beyond Blue.What causes anxiety?
15 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Bhatia MS.Psychogenic lingual paresthesia. JCDR. Published online 2015. doi:10.7860/JCDR/2015/11916.5897Milltain.Tingling, prickling or numbness. How to solve it?National Institute of Mental Health.Anxiety disorders.American Academy of Family Physicians.Burning mouth syndrome.Anxietycentre.Tongue tingly, numb, itchy, twitching symptoms.Jauhal Dental.Why is my tongue tingling.AK Dentistry.Why does my tongue feel numb?AZ Dentist.Scalloped tongue.RDH.Tongue chewing: Causes, treatments, and information for patients.National Health Service.Teeth grinding (bruxism).National Health Service.Breathing exercises for stress.Harvard Health.Ease anxiety and stress: Take a (belly) breather.Anxiety & Depression Association of America.Tips to manage anxiety and stress.Periodontal Associates, LLC.Numbing or tingling tongue sensation.Beyond Blue.What causes anxiety?
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Bhatia MS.Psychogenic lingual paresthesia. JCDR. Published online 2015. doi:10.7860/JCDR/2015/11916.5897Milltain.Tingling, prickling or numbness. How to solve it?National Institute of Mental Health.Anxiety disorders.American Academy of Family Physicians.Burning mouth syndrome.Anxietycentre.Tongue tingly, numb, itchy, twitching symptoms.Jauhal Dental.Why is my tongue tingling.AK Dentistry.Why does my tongue feel numb?AZ Dentist.Scalloped tongue.RDH.Tongue chewing: Causes, treatments, and information for patients.National Health Service.Teeth grinding (bruxism).National Health Service.Breathing exercises for stress.Harvard Health.Ease anxiety and stress: Take a (belly) breather.Anxiety & Depression Association of America.Tips to manage anxiety and stress.Periodontal Associates, LLC.Numbing or tingling tongue sensation.Beyond Blue.What causes anxiety?
Bhatia MS.Psychogenic lingual paresthesia. JCDR. Published online 2015. doi:10.7860/JCDR/2015/11916.5897
Milltain.Tingling, prickling or numbness. How to solve it?
National Institute of Mental Health.Anxiety disorders.
American Academy of Family Physicians.Burning mouth syndrome.
Anxietycentre.Tongue tingly, numb, itchy, twitching symptoms.
Jauhal Dental.Why is my tongue tingling.
AK Dentistry.Why does my tongue feel numb?
AZ Dentist.Scalloped tongue.
RDH.Tongue chewing: Causes, treatments, and information for patients.
National Health Service.Teeth grinding (bruxism).
National Health Service.Breathing exercises for stress.
Harvard Health.Ease anxiety and stress: Take a (belly) breather.
Anxiety & Depression Association of America.Tips to manage anxiety and stress.
Periodontal Associates, LLC.Numbing or tingling tongue sensation.
Beyond Blue.What causes anxiety?
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