Which care measure is appropriate for trigeminal neuralgia?

• A. Offer lukewarm food and have the patient chew on the unaffected side
• B. Limit oral hygiene to once daily
• C. Keep room temperature cold to numb pain
• D. Avoid increased protein intake

Answer: (A)

Trigeminal neuralgia causes sudden, severe facial pain that is triggered by stimulation of the facial nerves, especially during chewing. To reduce pain triggers, choose foods that are not extremes in temperature and chew on the side of the mouth that is not affected. Lukewarm foods minimize temperature-related nerve stimulation, and chewing on the unaffected side decreases input to the painful trigeminal nerve during chewing, making this a practical, patient-centered care measure.

Other options don’t address the trigger mechanism: a cold room can provoke pain rather than numb it, limiting oral hygiene to once daily neglects dental health and doesn’t alleviate triggers, and there’s no direct link between protein intake and trigeminal neuralgia pain.