A member asked:

Is it common to bite your tongue after oral surgery with general anethesia?

13 doctors weighed in across 7 answers

No: The general anesthetic typically doesn't contribute to a patient biting his tongue. If a patient receives local anesthesia along with the general anesthesia and the lip and/or tongue is numb then unless you are careful you can accidentally bite these areas without knowing it.

Answered 12/9/2016

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Not common: Not really common, but if your tongue becomes caught between your teeth as you wake up, it can happen. If it happens after waking, it is more likely due to the local anesthetic given that makes it so you can't feel your tongue.

Answered 11/24/2016

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Not really: It is entirely possible, but i don't see that very often at all, in fact i would say it is rare in my practice. But, it is certainly possible.

Answered 9/22/2012

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Dr. Orrin Ailloni-Charas answered

Specializes in Anesthesiology

Not common: But possible. If you have a bruise on your tongue, it is possible that there were some difficulties with the intubation or surgical instrumentation.

Answered 6/18/2018

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No: And that is because many of us put bite blocks or wrap soft sponges around tongue depressors to prevent this. Most people when waking up from general anesthesia do reflexively bite down but the tongue is usually not bit. The bite blocks are used to prevent the breathing tube from being crushed or bitten.

Answered 4/17/2015

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Dr. Scott Frank answered

Specializes in Immediate Implant Placement

No: Biting your tongue after oral surgery is very uncommon.

Answered 12/7/2012

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Dr. Richard Pollard answered

Specializes in Anesthesiology

No: It is possible. It is also possible that the instruments used by the oral surgeon may have caused this problem with your tongue.

Answered 4/24/2015

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