Numb lips can come from allergic reactions, anxiety, cold sores, nerve issues, or low B12. Seek emergency care with facial swelling or stroke signs.
Common causes
- Allergic reaction.
- Anxiety or panic attack.
- Cold sores.
- Dental work (numbness from anesthetic).
- Vitamin B12 deficiency.
- Migraine.
- Nerve issues or multiple sclerosis.
Emergency
Call 911 if lips go numb with swelling, trouble breathing, face droop, slurred speech or weakness. It may be anaphylaxis or stroke.
See a doctor
If numbness persists.
Common causes
Numb lips can come from anxiety and hyperventilation (low carbon dioxide), allergic reaction, dental anesthesia, cold exposure, migraine, vitamin B12 deficiency, nerve compression, herpes outbreak, or Raynaud-like reactions. Perioral numbness is frequently temporary.
- Hypocalcemia (low calcium) causes tingling around the lips and fingers.
- Food allergies, including oral allergy syndrome, may cause tingling or swelling.
- Multiple sclerosis and stroke can cause facial numbness.
When to treat as an emergency
Call emergency services if lip numbness comes with face drooping, arm weakness, speech difficulty, confusion, severe headache or vision changes (use the BE FAST stroke check), or with swelling of the lips or tongue, hives and trouble breathing. See a doctor for numbness that lasts more than a day or recurs. Tests may include blood tests for B12 and calcium, and imaging.
Common causes
Numb lips can be due to anxiety, allergic reactions, dental work, cold sores, vitamin B12 deficiency, migraine, nerve compression or hyperventilation.
When to treat as an emergency
Call 911 if numbness comes with swelling of the face or tongue, trouble breathing, weakness on one side, slurred speech or confusion, which may signal anaphylaxis or stroke.
Common causes of numb lips
Numb lips can come from an allergic reaction such as oral allergy syndrome, dental work with local anesthetic, cold exposure, anxiety with hyperventilation, vitamin B12 deficiency, a pinched nerve, migraine aura, Bell’s palsy or shingles. Numbness with tingling in the face may also be a sign of a stroke or transient ischemic attack.
When to get help
Call emergency services for numbness with swelling of the tongue or throat, trouble breathing, hives (possible anaphylaxis), or with face drooping, arm weakness and speech trouble (the FAST signs of stroke). Mild numbness after dental work usually fades in a few hours. Persistent or recurring numbness needs a doctor, who may test B12, blood sugar and calcium and consider imaging. Medicines such as chemotherapy drugs can also cause numbness.
Based on data from the American Stroke Association and the Mayo Clinic
