Face tingling can occur with many situations, like facial paralysis, anxiety, migraine, TMJ dysfunction, infection or nerve inflammation. Some people report tingling after dental surgery, for example, which can be accompanied by other symptoms like headache or ear ringing.

In addition, face tingling can be a sign of a more serious health condition, like a stroke. This type of tingling is usually felt on one side of the body and occurs with symptoms like difficulty speaking or smiling, a crooked mouth and an asymmetric face.

It is important to see a neurologist, family doctor or dentist anytime you experience tingling or numbness in the face, especially if it presents with other symptoms. The doctor will order the appropriate testing to reach a diagnosis and start treatment. If you suspect a stroke you should proceed to the hospital immediately.

Common causes

Face tingling can occur for the following reasons:

1. Dental problems

A common cause of face or head tingling is a dental issue, like cavities, pulpitis or a dental abscess. These can stimulate the nerve and cause numbness and pain.

What to do: You should book an appointment with your dentist for assessment and treatment. The doctor may prescribe antibiotics or anti-inflammatories, or recommend procedures like cavity fillings, tooth extraction or a root canal.

2. Facial paralysis

Facial paralysis, or Bell's palsy, is a neurological disorder that impacts the facial nerve.

The symptoms of facial paralysis include a 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.

What to do: in these cases, it is important to see a doctor so that the cause can be identified and the most appropriate treatment can be prescribed.

In general, the use of artificial tears is recommended to prevent dry eyes, and physiotherapy to strengthen the muscles and improve blood circulation in the area of the affected nerve, massage, and electrostimulation.

3. TMJ dysfunction

TMJ dysfunction is a condition that affects the temperomandibular joint (or TMJ). This joint is responsible for the opening and closing movement of the mouth. Dysfunction can lead to discomfort and tingling in the face that may be accompanied by a persistent headache or ringing in the ears.

The most common causes of TMJ dysfunctions are grinding the teeth at night (bruxism), direct trauma to the area and even a severe nail biting habit.

What to do: Treatment should be oriented by a dentist, who will likely prescribe a mouth guard to use when sleeping, as well as physiotherapy, analgesics or anti-inflammatories, relaxation techniques, laser therapy or surgery.

4. Facial nerve conditions

Damage to facial nerves, like the trigeminal, facial, glossopharyngeal or occipital nerves, for example, can cause inflammation, leading to the appearance of sensitivity in the face or skull.

These conditions can lead to symptoms such as tingling or numbness that are felt in the face and head.

What to do: treatment depends on the nerve affected and the severity of the symptoms. All treatment should be guided by a neurologist, and usually involves the use of muscle relaxants, corticosteroids, anticonvulsants or antidepressants to relieve symptoms.

5. Dental surgery

Dental surgery, like tooth extraction, tooth implant, or corrective jaw surgery can lead to stimulation and inflammation of nerves in the area. This can lead to numbness, tingling or pain in the face.

What to do: Generally, this type of change is temporary and does not last for more than a few day. Face swelling is often noted. However, nerve damage can potentially affect sensibility for many months, which may require a more prolonged treatment approach or even more surgery. The dentist may prescribe analgesics, anti-inflammatories or opioids in the meantime.

6. Migraine

Although the main symptom of a migraine is a headache, this condition may also cause sensitivity changes in some parts of the body, like the face, as well as numbness or tingling.

Migraines will often trigger an aura, which are symptoms that appear before the pain emerges, like numbness or seeing spots. Learn more about the common symptoms of a migraine and the aura symptoms that can occur.

What to do: Treatment for a migraine is usually guided by a neurologist, who may prescribe anti-inflammatory or triptan medication to relieve pain and prevent migraine crises. Learn more about how migraines are diagnosed and treated.

7. Anxiety

An anxiety attack or stress can cause change to sensitivity and tingling in many parts of the body. Many patients with a history of anxiety will report tingling in the face, tongue or head.

What to do: Tingling in these cases is usually mild and resolves within minutes, once the person is calmer. You can use natural methods to relieve stress and tingling, like herbs for anxiety to make tea with sedative properties.

Intense tingling that presents with other symptoms may require more targeted treatment with anxiety medications prescribed by a doctor.

8. Facial abnormalities

Facial nodules, polyps, infections (like sinusitis), inflammation, deformities or even tumors and impede normal circulation. Any interference with tissue integrity can cause facial tingling.

What to do: Treatment of facial abnormalities depends wholly on the underlying cause. The doctor overlooking treatment may be neurologist or ENT specialist. The doctor may prescribe analgesics, anti-inflammatories or surgery for removal of any growths.

9. Trigeminal neuralgia

Trigeminal neuralgia is a neurological disorder characterized by compression of the trigeminal nerve. This nerve is responsible for muscle control when chewing, and also transports face sensitivity-related information to the brain. Compression can cause face tingling, numbness or pain, which can radiate to the area around the nose and above the eyes.

This condition can occur due to a displaced blood vessel that rests on the nerve. It is also common with brain injuries and autoimmune diseases that affect the nerves, like multiple sclerosis.

What to do: You should consult a neurologist who may recommend the use of medications like analgesics, anticonvulsants, muscle relaxants or antidepressants to relieve pain and tingling. The doctor may also advise physiotherapy sessions, or in serious cases, surgery.

10. Dental surgery

11. Stroke

A stroke, or cerebrovascular attack, is a condition that can cause symptoms like tingling on just one side of the face, difficulty speaking or smiling, a crooked mouth and an asymmetric face. Other common symptoms include vision changes, fainting, headache and even vomiting, depending on the area of the brain affected.

Strokes are life-threatening and generally occur due to a clot in a brain blood vessel that disrupts normal circulation, or a rupture of a blood vessel in the brain.

What to do: Proceed to the closest hospital so that the most appropriate treatment can be started to avoid further complications, like difficulty moving, confusion or memory loss. Treatment depends on the type of stroke the patient is presenting with.

12. Medication use

Some medications can cause face or body tingling as side-effects. This can occur with chemotherapy, HIV medication or metronidazole.

What to do: You should advise your prescriber of any side effects, so that the doctor can consider the possibility of altering doses or swapping to another medication.

13. Shingles

Shingles, or herpes zoster is a condition caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus in people who have already had chickenpox.

This virus lies "dormant" within the nerves and can be reactivated when the immune system is weakened.

Shingles mainly affects the chest and stomach, but it can also appear on the face, in the region of the trigeminal nerve, causing tingling, burning, intense pain and blisters on the skin.

This infection can be prevented by getting the shingles vaccine to people over 50 years of age. See when to take and doses of the shingles vaccine.

What to do: treatment is guided by a family doctor, dermatologist or neurologist and involves the use of oral antivirals to the multiplication of the virus. Treatment is aimed at skin healing and preventing the appearance of more wounds and blisters.

14. Multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease that is characterized by the breakdown of the myelin that covers neurons, which compromises the functioning of the nervous system.

This condition can cause tingling in various parts of the body, including the face, as well as vision problems, lack of strength in the limbs, and difficulty walking and coordinating movements.

What to do: treatment for multiple sclerosis is guided by a rheumatologist who may prescribe medications such as anticonvulsants, corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, painkillers and muscle relaxants, as well as physiotherapy sessions.

15. Lyme disease

Lyme disease is an infection caused by Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria that is transmitted by the bite of an infected tick infected.

This infection can spread to various parts of the body and affect the nerves, resulting in numbness or tingling in the face, facial paralysis or visual changes.

What to do: treatment is carried out by an infectious disease specialist using antibiotics such as doxycycline. The sooner treatment is started, the faster recovery will be, avoiding complications.

16. Chemotherapy

Some chemotherapy drugs used for cancer treatment, such as oxaliplatin, cisplatin or carboplatin, can cause peripheral neuropathy.

This neuropathy usually affects the hands or feet, but in some cases it can also affect the face and cause numbness or tingling in the face.

What to do: Avoid exposure to extreme temperatures or very cold objects, as they can worsen or trigger symptoms.

The oncologist may recommend the use of medications such as gabapentin or pregabalin, to relieve symptoms of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.

17. Diabetes

Uncontrolled diabetes can cause progressive damage to the peripheral nerves due to high blood sugar levels. This is referred to as diabetic neuropathy.

This condition can result in pain, tingling, burning sensation or loss of sensation, mainly in the hands or feet, but it can also affect the face.

What to do: diabetes and blood sugars should be managed as prescribed by a family doctor or endocrinologist. To relieve symptoms of diabetic neuropathy, the doctor may prescribe medications like analgesics and antidepressants.