A sudden onset of facial numbness can often indicate a serious underlying illness. Numbing of the face commonly means a trauma to the facial muscles or a lack of communication between the nerves and the messages sent by the brain. People experiencing facial numbness or tingling should consult a physician immediately for further evaluation.
Bell's Palsy
According to the National Institutes of Health, Bell's palsy occurs when nerves that control facial movements on one side become swollen or inflamed. Symptoms of Bell's palsy include a rapid paralysis of one side of the face, making it difficult to smile or blink on one side. Other symptoms include facial numbness, drooping on one side of the face, headache, decreased ability to taste and changes in tear and saliva production. Bell's palsy most often resolves on its own within a few weeks, but can take up to three to six months.
Lyme Disease
Lyme disease occurs following a bite from a deer tick infected with the bacteria borrelia burgdorferi. Symptoms of lyme disease may not show up for months or even years following a tick bite. Within a few days of infection, a bull's eye-like red rash often appears at the site of the bite . People may experience fever, chills, fatigue, body aches and other flu-like symptoms. People often mistake these symptoms for a simple virus and do not seek treatment. If Lyme disease goes left untreated, symptoms may progress to joint pain that most often affects the knees and shoulders, inflammation of the membranes surrounding the spinal cord and brain, numbness and paralysis on one side of the face and in rare cases, irregular heartbeat. Physicians treat Lyme disease with either oral or intravenous antibiotics, dependent upon the severity of the illness.
Stroke
A stroke occurs when the blood supply to the brain is obstructed or cut off, depriving the brain of oxygen. MayoClinic.com warns that brain tissue begins to die within minutes of oxygen deprivation, causing permanent injury and, if left untreated, death. Strokes are most often caused by blood clots that break off and travel through the veins and arteries until they become lodged, blocking blood flow. Symptoms of a stroke include sudden loss of balance, trouble speaking or understanding others, paralysis and numbness on one side of the body, headaches and vision troubles. Treating a stroke involves quickly restoring blood flow to the brain by the use of drugs that break up blood clots such as aspirin, tissue plasminogen activators and warfarin.
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