I had type 1 sharp TN pain on the right side of my face that started almost 2 years ago. A neurologist diagnosed it immediately as TN. I had bloodwork done and a brain MRI with contrast to rule out tumor, aneurysm, etc. My symptoms are very typical of TN. He prescribed Tegretol but I was about to go on a scuba diving trip so was not about to start taking a possible mind altering medication like that where I could get killed by making poor decisions underwater. I took it along with me on the trip in case the pain got worse but I never took it because the pain went away. I have had what I call twinges off and on ever since then but none of the sharp pain which I have been thankful for.
A few weeks ago I suddenly had the sharp pains again multiple times on a few days in a row. My husband mentioned that he had recently listened to a Dr. radio show where they were discussing people with Tourette's syndrome and they were discussing facial tics which are one of the symptoms with Tourette's. They had discovered by accident that if people used a mouth guard at night that they had a significant reduction in facial tics. They said the trigeminal nerve (which has sensory and motor functions) was the one involved. With that in mind we decided, what if using a mouth guard while sleeping could minimize TN attacks. I happen to have a mouth guard but had not been using it at the time. It was made by my dentist as a protective thing for a tooth implant that I have. Within 1 night of using the mouth guard I have not had any more sharp pains. Have had just the occasional hint of a twinge. Have been wearing the mouth guard every night now for about 3-4 weeks.
This certainly may just be coincidence since my sharp pains went away on their own previously so I have no idea if the mouth guard is what made the difference or not. Just in case it could make a difference I wanted to bring it up to members of the forum as something they might want to try and then report back to the forum as to any positive or negative results. Since many people are diagnosed with dental pain, some of you may already have mouth guards. If not, they do make some general ones that wouldn't be a perfect fit but would be economical. Ones made specifically to fit your teeth cost upwards of $400.
Another alternative might be something that scuba divers use. There is a company called Sea Cure that makes mouthpieces for regulators. I love mine. Scuba stores carry them. You put it in hot water to make it slightly soft and then you bite down on it so that it conforms to your teeth. It comes with precise instructions on how to do it. I'm thinking it might be an inexpensive alternative for someone who doesn't have a mouth guard. My dentist made mouth guard goes over my upper teeth.
If anyone tries this let me know if it does or does not make any difference. If it helps with Tourette's it is always possible it could help with TN. No one really knows why people have TN anyway.