Tingling in the face can be caused by various situations, such as facial paralysis, anxiety, migraine, TMJ dysfunction, infection or inflammation of nerves in the face, as well as after dental surgery, for example, and may be accompanied by other symptoms such as back pain. headache or ringing in the ear.
Furthermore, tingling in the face may also indicate a more serious health condition, such as stroke, and is generally felt on only one side of the body, and is accompanied by symptoms such as difficulty speaking or smiling, a crooked mouth and an asymmetrical face, for example. .
It is important to consult a neurologist, general practitioner or dentist whenever symptoms of tingling or numbness appear in the face, especially when accompanied by other symptoms, so that tests can be carried out to identify the cause and carry out the most appropriate treatment. In the case of a stroke, you should go to the emergency room immediately.
Main causes
The most common causes of tingling in the face are:
1. Dental problems
A common cause of tingling in the face or head is dental problems such as pulpitis, periodontitis or even a tooth abscess, which can cause nerve stimulation in the face and cause numbness, which is usually accompanied by pain.
What to do: You should consult your dentist for dental treatment of the condition that is causing the pain, which can be done with the use of antibiotics or anti-inflammatories, filling the tooth, removing the cavity or root canal, for example. See how root canal treatment is done.
2. Facial paralysis
Facial paralysis, or Bell’s facial palsy, is a neurological disorder that occurs when the facial nerve is affected, causing symptoms such as lack of expression in one part of the face, a tingling sensation on the affected side of the face, and difficulty closing the affected eye. . See more about facial paralysis.
What to do: In these cases, it is important to go to the doctor so that the cause can be identified and the most appropriate treatment can be indicated. In general, the use of artificial tears is recommended to avoid drying out the eye, and physiotherapy to strengthen the muscles and improve blood circulation in the area of the nerve that was affected, massage and electrical stimulation.
3. Temporomandibular dysfunction
Temporomandibular dysfunction is caused by a disorder in the functioning of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), which is responsible for the movement of opening and closing the mouth, generating discomfort in the face and jaw region, and tingling in the face that can be accompanied by pain. persistent headaches or even ringing in the ears. Check out other symptoms of temporomandibular dysfunction.
The most common causes of temporomandibular dysfunction are clenching your teeth too much while sleeping, having suffered a blow to the region or having a habit of biting your nails, for example.
What to do: The treatment must be carried out under the guidance of the dentist, who generally recommends the use of a rigid plate that covers the teeth for sleeping, physiotherapy, use of analgesics and anti-inflammatories, relaxation techniques, laser therapy or surgery. See the main treatments for temporomandibular disorder.
4. Changes in facial nerves
Changes in facial nerves, such as the trigeminal, facial, glossopharyngeal or occipital nerves, for example, can cause inflammation, leading to sensitivity in the face or skull, and symptoms such as tingling or numbness that are felt in the face and head.
What to do: Treatment depends on the type of nerve affected and the severity of the symptoms, and should be carried out under the guidance of a neurologist, who may recommend the use of muscle relaxants, corticosteroids, anticonvulsants or antidepressants, for example, to help alleviate symptoms.
5. Dental surgery
Surgeries on the face and teeth, such as tooth removal, implants or orthognathic surgery, can involve the manipulation and inflammation of nerves in the region, which can result in numbness, tingling or pain in the face.
What to do: Generally, this change is temporary, and does not last more than a few days, as it can occur due to swelling of the facial tissues. However, if there has been nerve damage, the change in sensitivity may last for many months and require prolonged treatment guided by a dentist or maxillofacial surgeon, who may indicate the use of analgesics, anti-inflammatories or opioids, for example. See how to relieve pain after dental surgery.
6. Migraine
Although the main symptom of migraine is headache, this condition can also be accompanied by changes in sensitivity in some parts of the body, such as the face, which can cause numbness or tingling in the face.
Furthermore, migraines with aura can cause sensory symptoms even before the headache appears, such as the vision of bright spots or numbness. Know how to identify all the symptoms of migraine.
What to do: Migraine treatment should be guided by a neurologist, who may recommend the use of anti-inflammatory medications or triptans to relieve pain and prevent migraine attacks from occurring. Check out the main remedies recommended for migraines.
7. Anxiety
A crisis of stress and anxiety can cause changes in sensitivity and tingling sensations in different parts of the body. It is also common for it to appear on the face, tongue or head.
What to do: The tingling in the face in these cases is mild, and passes after a few minutes, when the person is able to calm down, and natural measures can be used to relieve stress and end the tingling. Check out some natural calming options to relieve stress and anxiety.
8. Changes to the face
The appearance of nodules, polyps, infections, such as sinusitis, inflammations, deformities or even a tumor on the face or skull, can compromise the sensitivity of nerves, cause changes in blood circulation or any other type of compromise to the integrity of the fabrics that generate tingling.
What to do: The treatment of changes in the face depends on their cause, and in these cases the neurologist or otolaryngologist may recommend the use of analgesics, anti-inflammatories, antibiotics or even surgery to remove polyps or nodules, for example. Find out how surgery to remove polyps is performed.
9. Trigeminal neuralgia
Trigeminal neuralgia is a neurological disorder characterized by compression of the trigeminal nerve, which is responsible for controlling the chewing muscles and transporting sensory information from the face to the brain, which can cause tingling, numbness or pain in the face, which can radiate to the region around the nose and upper part of the eyes.
This type of change can be caused by the displacement of a blood vessel, which ends up resting on the nerve, or even by brain injuries or autoimmune diseases that affect the nerves, such as multiple sclerosis, for example.
What to do: You should consult a neurologist who may recommend the use of analgesics, anticonvulsants, muscle relaxants or antidepressants to relieve pain and tingling in the face. Additionally, the doctor may recommend physiotherapy sessions, or in more serious cases, surgery. Check out all the treatment options for trigeminal neuralgia.
10. Vitamin deficiencies
Deficiency of vitamins, such as vitamin B3, B12 or E, can cause nerve damage and lead to tingling, especially in the feet, legs or hands, but can also affect the face.
Furthermore, a deficiency in these vitamins can also cause other symptoms, such as muscle pain, difficulty concentrating, diarrhea, vomiting or weight loss, for example.
What to do: You should consult your general practitioner to carry out tests, in order to identify which vitamin is deficient in the body, and carry out treatment, which is generally done with the use of vitamin supplements. Furthermore, it is important to have a varied diet, eating fresh fruits, vegetables and vegetables, in accordance with the nutritionist’s guidance. See a complete list of foods rich in vitamin B12.
11. AVC
Stroke, or stroke, is a condition that can cause symptoms of tingling on only one side of the face, difficulty speaking or smiling, a crooked mouth and an asymmetrical face. In addition, other symptoms may also appear, such as vision changes, fainting, headache and even vomiting, depending on the affected region of the brain. See other symptoms that may indicate a stroke.
Stroke is a serious condition that can be life-threatening and generally occurs due to an obstruction of a blood vessel in the brain, interrupting blood circulation, or the rupture of a blood vessel in the brain, which compromises the supply of oxygen to the brain.
What to do: you should seek the nearest emergency room immediately, so that the most appropriate treatment can be carried out, which varies according to the type of stroke, in order to avoid complications or sequelae, such as difficulty moving the body or confusion or memory loss , for example. Find out how stroke is treated.
12. Use of medications
Some medications can cause tingling in the face or body as one of their side effects, such as chemotherapy, HIV medications or the antibiotic metronidazole, for example. See other causes of tingling in the body.
What to do: You should consult the doctor responsible for the treatment to evaluate the possibility of changing the medication or receive guidance on what to do to reduce the side effects of the medication.
