Can you swallow your tongue? First aid for seizures and more

It is not possible to swallow the tongue. Bodily tissue firmly connects the tongue to the mouth, which prevents people from accidentally swallowing it.

It is a common myth that a person can swallow their tongue during a seizure, while asleep, or if they become unconscious. However, these events can cause an individual to have difficulty breathing if the tongue blocks the throat. Sometimes, people can also get oral injuries.

In this article, we look at why it is not possible to swallow the tongue. We also examine some of the issues that can affect the tongue and mouth during a seizure or while unconscious and explain what to do if they occur.

According to experts, it is not physically possible to swallow the tongue, and it is neither necessary nor safe to put anything in a person's mouth during a seizure.

The tongue is a muscle that connects firmly to the mouth. A length of tissue called the lingual frenulum connects the base of the tongue to the bottom of the mouth and lower jaw. This connection prevents people from being able to swallow the tongue.

It is a myth that people can accidentally swallow their tongue during a seizure or if they suddenly fall unconscious. However, people may use the term "swallowing the tongue" to refer to the tongue falling back toward the throat, which can block the airway.

When a person falls unconscious, the muscles relax, including the tongue. If a person is lying on their back, the relaxed tongue can block the throat and partially or completely obstruct their breathing.

People with obstructive sleep apnea can experience this during sleep, and there is also a risk of it occurring when a person falls unconscious.

Moving someone who is unconscious into the recovery position prevents the tongue from falling back toward the throat. People can follow these steps to put someone into the recovery position:

The United Kingdom's National Health Service (NHS) provides the following video to demonstrate:

Another potential complication of a seizure is oral injury.

In a 2017 survey, 106 people with epilepsy completed a questionnaire about the rate of oral injury during seizures. The researchers found that:

Tongue biting, which may puncture the tongue on one or both sides, is a common injury in seizures.

However, while first aid advice for seizures used to recommend holding down the tongue to prevent swallowing or injury, doctors now know that this practice is dangerous.

People should never place an object or their fingers inside a person's mouth while they are having a seizure. Doing so can cause:

The person who is having the seizure might also bite the fingers that are in their mouth.

The following sections outline how to help if a person is having a seizure.

If someone begins to show signs of a seizure, people can take the following steps:

If someone is already having a seizure, people can:

Do not try to restrain the person's movements, deliver CPR, or offer anything to eat or drink during a seizure. If the seizure lasts longer than 5 minutes, call 911.

People can also take steps to help someone who has just had a seizure.

If the person is unconscious:

If the person is responsive:

Head injuries are common during seizures. Research suggests that about 50% of people experience a head injury during a seizure.

It is important that bystanders know what to do if someone injures their head, both during a seizure and in other situations. If someone has a suspected head injury and they are unconscious, people can help by:

If the person is conscious, it is best to help them move into the position they find most comfortable rather than into the recovery position. However, the other tips still apply.

It is essential to keep checking that the person is still conscious and breathing normally until the ambulance arrives and to avoid leaving them unsupervised.

A person should call 911 or their local emergency department if someone has:

If a person has epilepsy and has had a seizure before, they can contact their doctor. They do not need emergency care unless a serious injury has occurred or the seizure lasted longer than 5 minutes.

Here are some questions people often ask about swallowing or choking on the tongue.

No, it is not possible for a person to swallow their tongue because it is firmly attached to the mouth. If a person has a seizure, nobody should put anything in their mouth, as it could damage their teeth, break their jaw, or cause them to choke.

In a person with obstructive sleep apnea, the tongue can partially block the airway, leading to a choking sensation. The person may gasp or be temporarily unable to breathe.

One remedy is to use a continuous pressure airway (CPAP) machine while sleeping. A CPAP uses mild air pressure to keep the airways open during sleep. If a CPAP does not help, a doctor may recommend an implantable device that stimulates the muscles that cause the tongue to protrude from the mouth, relieving the blockage.

It is impossible to swallow the tongue, even during a seizure. However, people can get oral injuries during seizures or if they suddenly fall unconscious. People with epilepsy can bite their tongue, crack their teeth, or injure their gums.

Despite this, it is important not to insert objects or fingers into someone's mouth when they are having a seizure. Instead, people should follow the recommended first aid practices.

In some cases, the tongue can fall backward in the mouth and block the airway. Moving someone into the recovery position, if they are unconscious, can prevent the tongue from blocking the throat.