Lip numbness may also indicate neuropathy, in which the nerves cannot carry a signal between the lips and the brain. Neuropathy, or nerve damage, may lead to a lack of muscle control in the lips as well as numbness. There are many possible causes of neuropathy, including nutritional deficiencies, exposure to toxic chemicals, and some disorders and diseases.
Seek immediate medical care if you or someone you are with has numb lips alongside difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, wheezing, or swelling of the mouth, lips, or throat.
Read on to learn more about the possible causes of numb lips. Always seek medical care if you are concerned about having numb lips.
Perhaps the most common cause of a numb sensation in the lips is exposure to cold temperatures. This is a result of changes in the circulation of your blood and extra pressure on your nerves.
To protect your lips against numbness in cold weather, try:
- wearing a facial covering or scarf over your mouth
- wearing lip balm
- moving the lips regularly
- avoiding cold temperatures where possible
Learn how to protect your skin during cold weather here.
If you have an allergy to a certain food or environmental trigger, such as pollen, you may notice numbness or tingling in your lips when you are exposed to it. Allergic reactions are usually mild, but you should contact a doctor if you think you may have an allergy, as they can become more serious.
It is also important to remember that people can develop new allergies into adulthood. Try to keep a diary of when you notice numbness in the lips and what may have triggered it.
Learn about food allergy and tolerance tests here.
If you have cut or wounded your lip, you may notice numbness due to nerve damage. You should seek medical care if you experience:
- bleeding that does not stop after 10–15 minutes
- deep, open, or large wounds
- an injury from a rusted or dirty object or an animal bite
- symptoms of infection, such as redness, warmth, and swelling
Learn more about when to contact a doctor for a cut here.
Some people may experience numbness in their lips after surgery.
Dental surgery
Dental surgery, such as wisdom tooth removal, can cause complications such as nerve damage. This can cause numb lips.
Nerve damage is not a common complication of wisdom tooth removal, and the damage is usually temporary and resolves itself after a few weeks or months. Severe damage to the nerve can mean that the numbness is permanent, however.
Learn more about wisdom tooth removal here.
General surgery
According to a 2021 case study, some people can experience numbness in the lips following surgery with a general anesthetic. However, this is rare.
This may also happen due to nerve damage. It may improve on its own after 6–8 weeks. In some cases, however, the nerve damage may be permanent.
Some people refer to Raynaud’s disease as Raynaud’s phenomenon. People with Raynaud’s disease have problems with their cardiovascular system. It causes their blood vessels to contract and blood flow to restrict, leading to numbness.
This numbness usually affects the hands, feet, or both. However, it can also affect other parts of the body, including the face.
Tetany causes the muscles to contract involuntarily. It is usually the result of low levels of calcium in the blood.
A common symptom of tetany is numbness around the mouth. Other symptoms may include:
- muscle cramps
- tingling sensations
- spasms of the vocal cords
- vomiting
- seizures
- reduced heart function
People with cancer may experience nerve damage as a result of the condition or its treatment. Nerve damage can cause numbness in the lips, and it may be especially noticeable in cold weather. People may also notice a tingling sensation or numbness in other parts of their body.
Oral cancers can also cause numbness of the lip. One older 2013 case study detailed a person who had a numb lip with no obvious cause. After conducting imaging tests, doctors found out that the cause of the numbness was a secondary tumor in the dental abscess.
It is important to remember that there are many more likely causes of numbness in the lips than cancer.
Learn more about oral cancers here.
People with numb chin syndrome (NCS) can notice a numb sensation in their chin, lower lip, or both. Most of the time, the cause of NCS is linked to cancer, though it can also happen due to:
- injury
- trauma
- infection
- exposure to toxic chemicals
The cancers that are most commonly associated with NCS are lymph node cancers and breast cancer.
Guillain-Barré syndrome is a neurological disorder. It causes the body to attack its own nerves using the immune system. Though rare, it can cause significant nerve damage.
Signs and symptoms of Guillain-Barré syndrome include:
- numbness or tingling in the body, especially in the hands, feet, and legs
- difficulty walking
- vision problems
- difficulty speaking and eating
- pins and needles
- coordination problems
- bladder and digestion problems
- problems with heart rate, blood pressure, or both
Learn more about Guillain-Barré syndrome here.
A transient ischemic attack (TIA) is sometimes referred to as a ministroke. It happens due to problems with the blood supply to the brain.
The effects of a TIA do not last as long as those of a stroke. They may get better within a few hours, resolving completely within 1 day. The symptoms of a TIA, however, are similar to those of a stroke, including:
- speech and visual changes
- numbness or weakness in the face, arms, and legs
- facial drooping
Seek emergency medical care immediately if you notice any of these symptoms.
Lyme disease happens due to the introduction of certain bacteria into the body, such as from a tick bite. It can affect the nervous system, causing symptoms such as:
- numbness
- pain
- weakness
- drooping facial muscles
- vision changes
- meningitis symptoms, including:
- a fever
- a stiff neck
- a severe headache
Learn more about Lyme disease here.
Numbness in the face, body, arms, and legs is a common symptom of multiple sclerosis (MS). This condition affects the nervous system.
The numbness may vary in severity, being mild enough to allow you to continue with daily activities or severe enough to cause difficulty eating and drinking.
Most of the time, numbness from MS is not constant and not disabling.
Other causes of numb lips include:
- anaphylaxis
- hyperventilation
- exposure to certain chemicals
To diagnose your condition, your doctor or licensed healthcare practitioner will ask you several questions related to your numb lips, including:
- How long have you experienced numb lips?
- Did the numb lips begin suddenly?
- Are you experiencing any other symptoms alongside your numb lips?
- Do your numb lips worsen when you consume certain foods or drinks?
- Are your numb lips becoming worse or more frequent?
- Are you taking any medications?
Tests they order will vary based on your answers to these questions, the results of a physical exam, and their notes from your medical history.
Numb lips may be due to cold temperatures, allergies, injuries, surgeries, or other conditions or circumstances. Conditions that can cause numbness in the lips include Raynaud’s disease, Guillain-Barré syndrome, MS, Lyme disease, and some cancers.
If you feel concerned about numbness in the lips for any reason and find it difficult to identify what has caused the sensation, seek medical attention.
