How Long Should Tongue Be Numb After Dentist? The Complete Guide for Curious Patients

Are you worried because your tongue is still numb after leaving the dentist? In this article, I’ll explain why that happens, how long it should last, and what to do if the numbness won’t go away. You’ll see what is normal and when you should call your dentist for help. This guide uses simple words and lots of real stories, so you won’t be confused. Whether you’re a parent or just wondering about dental visits yourself, you’re in the right place!

Table of Contents

1. Introduction: Why This Matters

Did you just leave the dentist and notice your tongue still feels strange—like it doesn’t belong to you? That weird feeling happens to adults and kids, and it usually means the dental numbing stuff (like lidocaine, articaine, or bupivacaine) is still working. But how long should it last? And is it ever a problem?

You aren’t alone. Patients often ask: “Is it normal that my tongue is still numb?” or “When will my mouth feel normal after the dentist?”

In this simple guide, you’ll get real, clear answers. You’ll also find out what food is okay, what to do, and when to get help.

2. What Is Dental Numbness?

Dental numbness happens when your dentist uses a local anesthetic to “freeze” part of your mouth. This means you don’t feel pain when they work. The numbing comes from the medicine stopping nerves in your mouth, teeth, lips, cheeks, and your tongue from sending pain signals.

Think of local anesthesia like pressing “mute” on your nerves. While your mouth is “quiet,” you can get a tooth filling, tooth pulled, or even a root canal without pain.

Usually, this numbness goes away in a few hours. Sometimes it hangs on longer in your tongue, lips, or cheek, but that’s normal, and I’ll tell you more soon.

3. How Do Dentists Numb Your Tongue?

Dentists give local anesthetic with a really small needle. Most of the time, they aim for nerves near your teeth or jaw. For work on bottom teeth, they often use something called an Inferior Alveolar Nerve Block (IANB). This can make your lips, tongue, teeth, and sometimes your chin feel numb.

Here’s a quick table showing common numbing medicines and how long the numb feeling usually lasts on soft parts like your tongue:

Sometimes, the dentist might touch or get close to the lingual nerve (runs by your tongue) or the trigeminal nerve. This can make your tongue stay numb longer than usual.

Tip: The kind of procedure, your age, health, and which medicine is used all change how long you stay numb.

4. How Long Does Tongue Numbness Usually Last?

Here’s the straight answer: For most people, tongue numbness goes away in 1 to 5 hours.

• With lidocaine, feeling is back in about 1–2 hours.
• With articaine or mepivacaine, it can take 2–3 hours.
• With bupivacaine, it might last up to 5+ hours.

Sometimes, after big dental jobs (like wisdom tooth removal or a full root canal), you could feel tingling or numbness on some or all of your tongue even after the rest of your mouth feels okay. Don’t freak out—this is normal for most!

5. Which Dental Anesthesia Makes Numbness Last Longer?

All dental numbing medicines act a bit different. Here’s what you should know:

• Articaine and lidocaine work fast and wear off fast.
• Bupivacaine (Marcaine) can stick around longer than 4 hours. It’s common after big surgeries if you might need pain relief at home.
• Some numbing drugs have epinephrine (a medicine that shrinks blood vessels), which makes the numb feeling last longer.

Parents: Kids can go back to normal faster, but make sure they don’t chew or bite their numb tongue!

If you want to see how digital tools can make dentistry safer and more exact, find out more about our digital dental lab.

6. Can I Speed Up the Return of Normal Feeling?

Mostly, waiting is the answer. Still, you can try a few things that might help numbness go away a little faster:

• Move Your Mouth Gently: Talk, smile, or read aloud. Moving your mouth brings more blood to the area.
• Warm Washcloth: Hold a warm (not hot) washcloth on your face where you got the shot. Don’t burn yourself!
• Don’t Chew Numb Areas: Wait until all feeling comes back before eating hard or chewy things.
• Ask About OraVerse: Some dentists use OraVerse (Phentolamine Mesylate), a shot that can reverse numbness a bit quicker. Not everyone gets it—ask your dentist.

Never poke, pinch, chew, or hit numb areas trying to “wake them up.” You won’t help, and you could hurt yourself.

7. What Should I Do While My Tongue Is Numb?

Staying safe while you can’t fully feel your tongue is important. Here’s what I suggest:

• Don’t chew, suck, or bite your tongue, lips, or cheek. You could hurt yourself without knowing.
• Eat soft things that are easy to swallow, like yogurt, bananas, or scrambled eggs.
• Don’t eat or drink anything really hot—you could burn your mouth and not know it.
• Use a straw if you want to drink and your lips feel numb.
• Talk slowly until you sound normal again. A numb tongue can make your speech sound funny, but it’ll come back soon.

Ever wonder who makes those strong, comfy dental appliances you get from your dentist? Teams at our china dental lab make sure everything fits well, so you heal as fast as possible.

8. Why Is My Tongue Still Numb After Several Hours?

If your tongue is still numb at the 4-hour mark, it’s usually nothing bad. Sometimes, numbness lasts longer because:

• Your dentist used a strong numbing drug or needed to numb a big area.
• The shot touched the lingual nerve or a nerve branch.
• Your body just clears the anesthetic slowly (everyone’s different!).
• You had wisdom tooth removal or work done near the jaw joint (TMJ).

Still numb at 6–8 hours? That’s longer than most, but still possible after big procedures.

Don’t chew until you can feel everything: I’ve seen people bite their tongue badly just by eating chips when they’re numb!

9. When Should I Worry About Prolonged Numbness?

Most dental numbness goes away in a few hours. But sometimes it hangs on, and that can make people nervous. These are the times you should be careful and maybe call your dentist:

• Numbness lasts more than 24 hours.
• You feel tingling, burning, or zapping feelings that start or get worse.
• You have slurred words, can’t swallow well, or part of your face feels weak.
• You have sharp, shooting, or burning pain.

Permanent nerve damage? It hardly ever happens. As Dr. Joe Dental says, “In my 30 years, almost everyone gets all feeling back. Only in rare cases does it last a long time.” Most problems that stick around after a dental shot, called paresthesia or dysesthesia, get better in weeks or months. Just 1 in 26,000 to 1 in 800,000 dental shots cause anything that sticks around for good.

10. What Causes Numb Tongue After Fillings, Extractions, and Wisdom Teeth Removal?

Tongue numbness can happen after many kinds of dental work. Here’s how:

Fillings and Crowns: Sometimes, the dentist needs to numb your bottom teeth, which can make your tongue numb, too. It should fade in 1–3 hours. Our crown and bridge lab makes sure your crowns fit right, which helps you heal faster.

Root Canal or Tooth Pulled: These take stronger numbing. You might feel the whole side of your mouth go heavy or tingly. That’s normal!

Wisdom Teeth Removal: Dentists use lots of numbing for this big job. Sometimes, the nerve to your tongue gets a little more, too. It should still go away by that night for most people.

Fitting Braces, Retainers, or Dentures: These usually don’t need numbness, but if they adjust something, you might feel mild numbness for a short time.

11. Tips to Prevent Accidental Injuries While Numb

Most mouth injuries after dental work happen because people don’t remember their mouth is still numb. Here’s how you can avoid that:

• Don’t chew gum or any food on the side of your mouth that’s still numb.
• Wait for all feeling to come back before eating crunchy, spicy, or hot foods.
• Watch your kids—make sure they don’t chew or pick at their tongue or lips.
• Drink slowly with a straw so you don’t dribble or bite yourself.

If you want top-notch dental appliances to help you heal safely, the experts at our removable denture lab are dedicated to this goal.

12. Case Study: When Numbness Lasted Longer Than Expected

Let me tell you about “John,” a patient I once saw. He had a wisdom tooth out with articaine and epinephrine. The next day, he called because his tongue was still a bit numb, with a tickly feeling. The dental office told him to “give it 72 hours and look for any changes.” The numbness faded bit by bit. A little tingling stuck around for a couple more weeks, but it went away. In almost every case I see, waiting and being patient works best!

What’s this mean for you? If this sounds like you, it’s probably normal—but let your dentist know if things don’t get better soon.

13. Should I Call My Dentist? Red Flags to Watch For

It’s a good idea to call your dentist if:

• Numbness stays longer than 24 hours
• You notice burning pain, strong tingling, or sharp jabs
• Your face muscles feel weak or don’t move right
• It’s hard to talk, eat, swallow, or breathe

Your dentist might want to see you. Sometimes they’ll send you to a specialist if they think a nerve is really involved. Most of the time, they’ll just check you and watch your progress.

14. Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is it safe to eat while my mouth is numb?

A: Only eat soft food on the side that isn’t numb. Wait until the feeling is back before chewing crunchy foods, so you don’t bite your tongue.

Q: How can I tell if the numbness is from the shot or nerve injury?

A: Most short numbness is just from the anesthetic. Real nerve injury usually burns, buzzes, or shocks, not just feels numb. Call your dentist if you feel these things.

Q: Will my speech sound weird?

A: Sometimes, you might have trouble saying some words if your tongue or lips are numb. This always gets better.

Q: Can I make dental numbness go away faster at home?

A: Not really, but moving your mouth gently, using a warm towel, and waiting can help a bit.

Q: Is there a medicine to reverse numbness?

A: Yes! Ask about OraVerse. It’s not for everyone but can help in some cases.

15. Key Takeaways: What To Remember

• Tongue numbness from the dentist is common. It fades in 1 to 5 hours, depending on the numbing medicine and your procedure.
• Be patient. Most people get full feeling back the same day, even after wisdom teeth removal or hard dental work.
• Don’t hurt yourself. Chew carefully, eat soft things, and stay away from hot food until you have feeling again.
• Call your dentist if you’re worried! If numbness is still there after 24 hours, if you have burning or sharp pain, or trouble moving your face or mouth, you should check in.
• The dental team is here for you. Our crown and bridge lab, removable denture lab, and digital dental lab support your dentist for safe, quick recovery!

Remember: Most numb tongues get better all on their own. Patience, care, and a team that cares mean you’re never alone. Got a question? Don’t wait—call your dentist. That’s what they’re there for!

Reviewed by Dr. Joe Dental, DDS, with 30 years of patient care experience.

References

• Malamed SF et al., “Phentolamine Mesylate for Reversal of Soft-Tissue Anesthesia,” J Am Dent Assoc. 2008.
• Pogrel MA, “Permanent nerve damage in dentistry,” J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2007.
• Donoff RB et al., “Recovery from dental nerve injury,” J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 1990.
• Hillerup S et al., “Numbness following dental injections,” J Oral Maxillofac Surg. 2002.

Stay calm and take care. Your smile is worth it!