What should I do about trigeminal neuralgia of the teeth?

Written by Li Bao Hua
Dentistry
Updated on September 26, 2024
00:00
00:00

Trigeminal neuralgia in the teeth is generally caused by lesions in the areas controlled by the trigeminal nerve, leading to pain. This pain has trigger points, which could be a particular patch of skin or triggered during face washing, producing paroxysmal, electric shock-like pain. It is important to differentiate this from tooth-related nerve pain. Sometimes toothache may resemble symptoms of trigeminal neuralgia. If dental treatment does not relieve the pain, it might be trigeminal neuralgia related to the teeth. Trigeminal neuralgia requires medication, and there are many types of treatments available. If medicinal treatment proves ineffective, surgical treatment or acupuncture may be employed. In severe cases, nerve tissue blockage can be performed to temporarily relieve the pain.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
50sec home-news-image

Trigeminal neuralgia physiotherapy methods

For patients with trigeminal neuralgia, in addition to pharmacological treatment, some physical therapies can also be combined, such as massage, acupressure, physiotherapy, acupuncture, and electrotherapy. These physical therapies can help reduce the incidence of trigeminal neuralgia and improve symptoms. It is recommended to undergo physical therapy under the guidance of a professional physician, which can play a supporting role. Of course, physical therapy cannot replace surgical treatment. If the goal is complete treatment, it is advised to undergo microvascular decompression surgery, which plays a crucial role in alleviating pain and stabilizing the condition. (Please use medication under the guidance of a professional physician and do not self-medicate.)

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Gao Yi Shen
Neurosurgery
45sec home-news-image

Trigeminal neuralgia prodrome

Trigeminal neuralgia does not have very obvious precursors. This is because trigeminal neuralgia often occurs suddenly, especially with the concept of trigger points. That is to say, once the trigger point is activated, it immediately induces pain without any warning signs. Trigger points vary from person to person, usually located primarily on the cheek. Patients who frequently suffer from trigeminal neuralgia often know these areas. Typically, the pain occurs during activities like brushing teeth with cold water or chewing hard foods such as peanuts or walnuts, triggering severe pain instantly. Thus, in the case of trigeminal neuralgia, there are no precursors, only immediate triggers and immediate pain.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Jiang Fang Shuai
Neurosurgery
51sec home-news-image

Is trigeminal neuralgia severe?

Trigeminal neuralgia is often described by people as the "world's first pain," highlighting the severity of this condition. Patients usually experience excruciating pain in the areas of the head and face served by the trigeminal nerve during activities such as washing their face, brushing their teeth, eating, drinking, combing their hair, and even in a state of rest. The pain can feel like cutting, burning, tearing, or electric shocks, making it unbearable and extremely agonizing. Clinically, trigeminal neuralgia is characterized by a sudden onset, long duration of illness, and a very slow, or even impossible, recovery. Therefore, those suffering from trigeminal neuralgia often face tremendous physical and psychological challenges. It is a serious disease.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Jiang Fang Shuai
Neurosurgery
33sec home-news-image

Is cold compress effective for trigeminal neuralgia?

Trigeminal neuralgia is a type of intense recurring pain in the facial areas distributed by the trigeminal nerve. When an attack occurs, the pain is unbearable for the patient. Clinically, besides immediately taking medication or opting for surgical treatments after stabilization, applying a cold compress can also alleviate symptoms. Placing a cold towel on the painful facial areas can relieve spasms and pain, improve local swelling, raise the pain threshold, and subsequently reduce the sensation of pain.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
48sec home-news-image

Should people with trigeminal neuralgia avoid certain foods?

Patients with trigeminal neuralgia need to be cautious about their diet. In daily life, try to avoid oily, spicy, and irritating foods, as these types of foods may trigger an attack of trigeminal neuralgia or make the existing attacks more frequent, thereby causing great pain to the patient. It is recommended to choose a light diet in daily life, low in salt and fat, especially for patients with high blood pressure or diabetes, who need to be more cautious. It may be beneficial to appropriately include some fresh vegetables and fruits in the diet, and it is also suggested to supplement with some multivitamin drugs, which might enhance the effects. If trigeminal neuralgia attacks frequently, it is still recommended to visit a local hospital in a timely manner and consider undergoing microvascular decompression surgery for treatment.