The University of Rochester Medical Center explains that paresthesia results from a "traffic jam in your nervous system." This analogy refers to a "roadblock" that's created when constant pressure is on a nerve. This pressure prevents the electric impulses from traveling up and down the nerves as they normally would. Once the pressure is removed, the impulses can travel freely again. But when the blockage is first released, the electric impulses will pick up faster than usual, causing a tingling sensation in the affected area.
However, the tingling you may feel in your tongue is rarely from falling asleep in a strange position or holding your tongue in a particular spot for too long. Let's go over a few things that can cause a tingling tongue.
Nerve Damage After Surgery
Some people get a tingling feeling in their tongue after oral surgery, like a wisdom tooth extraction or a root canal procedure. A case report in the Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine (JDAPM) notes that it will usually occur directly after the procedure for those who do experience paresthesia from oral surgery. In rare cases, a person can have a delayed-onset tingling of the tongue.
Two of the most likely nerves contributing to a tingling feeling in the tongue after oral surgery are the lingual nerve (LN) and the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN). The JDAPM notes that IAN paresthesia occurs in 0.35 to 8.4 percent of people who undergo oral surgery.
If you've recently had oral surgery and have noticed that your tongue feels tingly, don't worry. Most paresthesia cases due to oral surgery disappear on their own within a few months at the latest. You should schedule a visit with your dental professional if you are particularly concerned about the sensation or if it has lingered for longer than a few months.