Lingual Nerve

The lingual nerve is a part of the mandibular nerve of the face, which is an important part of the human jaw. The mandibular nerve itself is a part of the trigeminal nerve which provides the entire sensation in the human face. It's also a sensory nerve which provides the information of taste of different substances to the tip of the tongue.

It also provides sensation to a part of the floor of the mouth, which helps us realize the temperature, pain, and various other sensations. The rear part of the tongue is furnished by the glossopharyngeal nerve while there's a separate nerve which takes care of the taste process of the larynx and throat.

The main job of this nerve is to process various kinds of sensory information. It alerts the mind in instances of pain and temperature. It also plays a very important part when it comes to understanding taste of different foods.

It is an important part of the facial nerves, which handle the responsibility of alerting the brain for the perception of taste. Since it is an important sensory nerve, its blockage can make the tongue numb and result in paresthesia (tingling) or dysesthesia (pain and burning) in the mouth.

Causes of Nerve Injury

One of the most prime causes of lingual nerve damage is tooth extraction. Wisdom teeth are the third set of molars which can be removed anytime during teenage years up to the late twenties. The wisdom teeth may cause intense pain if they are not extracted, and this may lead to serious complications.

The extraction is considered safe; however, in some instances the procedure involves risks like bleeding, or damage to other teeth or nerve. It is difficult to estimate the degree of damage to the nerve because the symptoms of this condition vary widely. Some of these injuries heal within days while some take months.

Treatment

The treatment can be done either by surgery or by taking some vitamin supplements. Some vitamins have been proven beneficial in repairing the nerve damage. The following guidelines will help you choose the appropriate vitamin therapy:

• Also known as thiamine, vitamin B1 is widely used for its nerve-repairing properties. Therefore, it should be included in the diet. This vitamin is more effective when administered intravenously rather than orally.

• The best vitamin for preventing and repairing nerve damage is vitamin B12. This vitamin supports the protective covering (sheaths) of the nerve endings. Therefore, it minimizes the intensity of damage and also provides instant relief to the nerve.

• Also known as niacin, vitamin B3 helps repair the damaged lingual nerve. It provides instant relief from pain, and is also beneficial for the nervous system. Vitamin B3 works best when administered intravenously.

The problem with nerve damages is that they don't heal easily. Same is with lingual nerve, it may take time to heal. So, it's always good to be careful when it comes to dental procedures.

There are also many nerve pain centers across the United States which help provide relief for different types of nerve damage. An oral surgeon may help you find the right clinic.

Disclaimer: This story is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.