Numbness timer · Typical window · Free · Nothing saved
How long will I be numb?
It depends on where the injection was given. Pick the tooth, enter the time, and see the typical window for feeling to come back.
Feeling typically returns
about 2 to 5 hours after the injection
Lower back teeth are usually numbed with a nerve block, which also numbs half the lip, chin and tongue and takes longer to wear off.
The tooth itself usually wakes up before the lip and tongue. Tingling as it fades is expected.
Still numb the next morning, or numb in one patch that is not improving? Call your dentist.
Typical ranges · Anesthetics differ · Nothing you enter is saved
While I am numb
0 of 4 done · Nothing saved
Why upper and lower differ
Two kinds of injection
Upper teeth are usually numbed by placing anesthetic beside the tooth, where it soaks through thin bone. It works on a small area and fades relatively quickly.
Lower back teeth sit in dense bone, so dentists numb the nerve further back, before it enters the jaw. That one injection numbs half the lower lip, the chin and often the tongue on that side, and it lasts noticeably longer.
The anesthetic used matters too. Some are chosen because they last longer, for example after surgery. Your dental office can tell you which you had and what to expect.
Table 1 — When to call
What is not expected
| Still numb the next day | Call your dentist. Most numbness is gone the same day. |
| A patch that stays numb or tingles for days | Call your dentist. Nerve irritation usually recovers, but it should be noted and followed. |
| A bitten lip, cheek or tongue | Common after numbness, especially in children. It usually heals in a week or two; call if it is large, keeps bleeding or looks infected. |
| Rash, swelling of the face or lips, or trouble breathing | Call 911: this can be an allergic reaction. |
Common questions
- How long does dental numbing last?
- For an upper tooth, feeling typically returns within about one to three hours. After a lower nerve block it is commonly two to four hours and sometimes longer. The lip and tongue usually stay numb a little longer than the tooth itself.
- Can I eat while my mouth is numb?
- It is best to wait. While you are numb you cannot feel heat or where your cheek and tongue are, so people burn or bite themselves without noticing. Stick to cool drinks until feeling returns.
- How can I make the numbness wear off faster?
- It wears off as your body clears the anesthetic, and there is no reliable way to hurry it at home. Some dental offices can give an injection that reverses it sooner. If numbness is a problem for you, ask about that before your appointment.
General information · Not dental advice
These are typical ranges. Anesthetics and people vary, and your dentist is the one to ask about numbness that lasts. We always recommend seeing a dentist. Nothing on this site can examine your mouth or tell you what is wrong. If something hurts, looks wrong, or worries you, book an exam, and go sooner if it is getting worse.
Emergency? If you have trouble breathing or swallowing, swelling that is spreading toward your eye or neck, a fever with facial swelling, or bleeding that will not stop, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room immediately. Full disclaimer
About this tool
This tool gives general, educational information only. It does not know your health history, has not examined you, and cannot diagnose anything or tell you what treatment you need. Use it to prepare for a conversation with your dentist, not to replace one.
Medical disclaimer
The information provided on Urgent Dental Helper is for general informational and educational purposes only. It is NOT intended to be a substitute for professional medical or dental advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Urgent Dental Helper is not a dental practice, and nothing here has examined your mouth. Always see a licensed dentist, physician, or other qualified health provider in person about any dental or medical condition. Never disregard professional advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read or any result you received on this website.