Numbness or tingling sensations in the tongue, medically known as paresthesia of the tongue, most commonly occur due to damage to the nervous system.
Damage to the lingual nerve that supplies the tongue has been reported as a complication of dental procedures or surgery such as wisdom tooth extraction, implants, or root canal procedures.
Other conditions that damage the nerves, as well as brain conditions such as stroke, can also cause numbness and tingling of the tongue. Sometimes, these sensations extend to involve the lips and/or jaws.
For trauma and tooth extraction injuries, the literature indicates good results from early intervention, so it is important to see an oral surgeon early in order to access whether you are a candidate, and when surgery might be appropriate. Most data indicates that the surgery should be done within 6 months of the date of injury, and many recommend earlier intervention.