Tongue twitching or spasm of the tongue may occur due to a variety of factors. It is caused by excessive activity in the parts of the brain which govern muscle movement. Medical conditions that are known to cause tongue spasm are: cerebral palsy, stroke, and multiple sclerosis. Certain anti-psychotic drugs also trigger tongue twitching.
Tongue spasm is characterized by short, jerky movements of the tongue. It is involuntary. It may be short-term or permanent, and may occur due to an underlying medical condition, or may be the result of taking certain medicines.
Twitching of the tongue is a symptom; it could be mild or severe. The condition is medically known as lingual dystonia. Lingual means tongue, and dystonia means an anomaly which causes involuntary contractions of the muscles.
Twitching of the tongue makes it difficult to swallow food. Treatment for the condition depends upon the underlying causative factor.
What Causes Twitching Of The Tongue?
There are varieties of factors that may be the cause of tongue twitching or spasm of the tongue.
- Tongue twitching can have a host of causes. Commonly seen causes for the condition include: Multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy or nerve impairment due to stroke.
- Movement disorders such as dystonia or Meige’s syndrome, which cause involuntary muscle contractions may set off tongue spasms as well.
- Occasionally, it could be a side effect of certain anti-psychotic drugs. Sometimes spasms of the tongue may be idiopathic, i.e. there may not be any known or ascertainable cause.
How To Make Your Tongue Stop Twitching?
There is no known cure for twitching of the tongue. A neurologist will help you diagnose the reason for the condition. He may order a few tests and investigations; test for any related diseases, and prescribe medications to help halt or decrease the symptoms of the condition.
Treatment options may be available for the disorder, depending upon the precise cause of the spasm. Confer with your doctor / specialist to understand the best treatment option for you.
- Drugs to deal with tongue spasm are sedatives that help decrease the involuntary twitching of the tongue muscle.
- Some experts advocate Botox to manage the case effectively. Botox may be used to paralyze the muscles of the tongue in order to avert involuntary convulsions of the tongue.
- You will have to discuss and talk to your health care provider at length to understand which medication / drug will work effectively for you.
- Multiple sclerosis, stroke and cerebral palsy need proper assessment and treatment; and once these conditions are in control, you can manage the problem about tongue spasm.
- By and large, tongue spasm is a side effect of certain drugs and medicines. You can manage your condition by steering clear of medicines than can worsen your condition. In case you have been put on to anti-psychotic drugs, talk to your psychiatrist about changing the medicine or altering the dose.
- Some health care providers suggest stress management to successfully manage the condition without medicines. You can deal with your tongue spasm by trying to control your stress. Talk to a counselor to learn about stress busting techniques and coping skills to manage the effects of your twitching tongue.
- Support groups are also available for people who have tongue spasm. People find Yoga, Pranayama, Tai Chi and meditation decidedly beneficial in tackling stress successfully and consequently managing the spasm of the tongue.