Health & Care Information Learn all about lip twitching whether upper or lower, lip twitching causes, its symptoms and superstitious beliefs and about its remedies. Lips twitches are due to a sudden involuntary contraction of muscle or muscle fibers in lips or as a result of direct stimulation of injury.
One can experience twitching in upper or lower lip or both at the same time. Lip twitching is a sensation that is not uncommon. It may be caused due to stress, exhaustion or just plain tiredness.
Although lip twitching is not chronic, when it occurs more. So that often it could be caused by something other than aforementioned non-serious reasons.
As we know that lips are the structure which covers the opening of the mouth and consists of upper and lower lip. Each of the lip is surrounded by orbicularis oris muscle which encircles its opening.
There are some superstitions related with lip twitching such as twitching of upper lip is because you are going to kiss someone or going to hear good news. On other hand twitching of lower lip leads to the superstition that someone is going to kiss you or you are going to hear bad news. Similarly, if the right side of lip twitches something good will happen or if the left side of the lip is twitching then something bad will happen that day.
Lip Twitching Causes
Lip twitching has no serious causes but it is quite annoying. Lip twitching is of two types:
Occasional lip twitching
Occasional lip twitching is caused by the withdrawal of drugs, cigarettes or alcohol. It may also be due to the excessive intake of coffee, caffeine pills, sodas or chocolate. It is also caused by fatigue, stress, fear, severe anxiety and damage of facial nerve.
Persistent lip twitching
Persistent lip twitching; Causes of persistent lip twitching are:
| Tremors | Essential tremors as well as hysterical tremors can be the reason behind your persistent lip twitching. Use of too many drugs may lead to hysterical tremors, whereas stress is the trigger behind essential tremors. If tremors are the underlying cause, you may experience muscle contraction in other areas of your body as well. |
| Bell’s Palsy | Consistent lip twitching may be the outcome of a medical condition, such as Bell’s palsy in which your facial nerves get damaged due to any reason. If your consistent twitching is due to Bell’s palsy, you may also notice some other symptoms, such as difficulty speaking, facial swelling, and facial droop. |
| Facial Spasms | Sometimes, you experience consistent twitching due to tics and spasms. You will notice contraction if you’re suffering from Hemi facial Spasm, a condition usually initiated by anxiety and fatigue. This may be the outcome of a tumor compressing your facial nerve – there may be no cause whatsoever. |
| Ticks | The twitching could also be due to a facial tic that involves the muscles of your lips, face, and eyes. You will experience repeated spasm if you’re dealing with tics. The condition usually improves with age, but aggravates with stress. |
| Parkinson’s Disease | Consistent twitching of your upper lip may be the outcome of Parkinson’s disease, in which the dopamine secreting cells become dysfunctional. You may also notice other symptoms such as slurred speech, shaking of hands or extremities, and signs related to neuro-degeneration. |
| Hypoparathyroidism | Your twitching upper lip may be due to hypoparathyroidism in which inadequate amounts of parathormone hormone leads to the increase of phosphorous and decrease of calcium in body. You may also experience muscle spasms of the mouth, face, or right/left side of the lip. |
| Other Causes | It doesn’t matter if you’re experiencing lower lip twitching or upper lip contraction, this could be due to an underlying condition if it’s constantly annoying you. A persistent twitch may also be the sign of DiGeorge syndrome or Tourette’s syndrome. You may notice other symptoms as well. |
Why is my Lip twitching?
Your lip twitches when the muscle that connects to your lip contracts involuntarily. Lip twitches because of stress, fatigue or side effect from a medication. Usually when the muscles around lip contracts, suddenly lip twitching is experienced. Whether it is upper or lower, but lip twitching is annoying and irritating. Lip twitching also occurs due to lack of potassium in your diet. But lip twitching may be just for few minutes as well as for few days in some cases.
Upper Lip Twitching
Upper lip twitching is an involuntary contraction of upper lip caused by emotional factors. In some cases, it may occur as an initial presentation of the neurodegenerative condition. Upper lip twitching also occurs in healthy people due to stress, fatigue or a heightened emotional state. It may be due to Tourette’s syndrome which includes nose wrinkling, tongue movement, unusual blinking, and behavioral issues.
Bottom Lip Twitching
Bottom lip twitching is typically a self-limiting condition that disappears on its own, after a few minutes or some days without causing any side effect. Bottom lip twitching may be felt as minor tremors of the lip which spread to other areas of the face. Bottom lip twitching may give rise to the sensation of frozen lip and numbness of bottom lip. Edges of the lip may elicit curling sensations. Bottom lip also twitches due to any stress. Prolonged and recurrent cases of lower lip need to be checked by a doctor for diagnosis of the underlying causative condition.
Lip Quiver
Lip quiver is also known as lip twitching. Lip quiver is a condition in which the muscles contract suddenly. Lip quivering is due to withdrawal from drugs. It may be due to emotions such as fear, excitement, tiredness and nervousness. Injury and trauma can also lead to lip twitching. Basically, facial twitch can lead to quivering of lips. Lip quivering is also known as lip fasciculations. When a person experiences lip twitching it can make your lip feel like it is quivering.
What does Quivering mean?
Quivering is defined as a shake with slight rapid motion or tremble. In other words, it is also called vibration. Quivering means trembling. The word quivering was developed onomatopoeically or creating a word that sound likes a vibrating kind of shiver. Quivering is an involuntary vibration as if it is from illness or weakness. Other words used for quivering are palpitation, vibration, shakiness and trembling.
Twitching Lip Remedies
Lip twitching can be controlled by some natural ways:
- Apply warm wet cloth to lip where twitching occurs.
- Avoid sudden withdrawal from alcohol and caffeinated beverages.
- Eat a well-balanced diet. Eat food rich in potassium along with vegetables and fruits.
- Reduce stress and fatigue by practicing stress buster exercise or yoga.
- Apply pressure to your lip with your finger to stop lip twitching.
- Take proper care of the mental and physical condition of your body.
- Treatment for spasms may require Botox and under severe circumstances, surgery may offer relief.
