Key Points
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Dental practitioners may be the first specialists to be consulted for intra-oral injuries caused by a toothbrush.
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Although uncommon, they need to be evaluated very carefully because of their potential to become life-threatening.
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Expert opinion should be sought in cases of neurological involvement or infection.
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Parents/carers of toddlers/epileptics need to be educated on the importance of supervised oral health care.
Abstract
Foreign body trauma to the oral cavity is fairly common. However, severe injuries caused by a toothbrush are rarely reported. We report a case of a 35-year-old epileptic patient who suffered seizures while brushing his teeth. During this episode, he self-inflicted a grievous injury to his oro-pharynx with his toothbrush which went unnoticed for 11 months. Thirteen cases of toothbrush induced trauma to this area are reviewed and a classification of these injuries is proposed. Complications related to these injuries are highlighted and their management discussed.
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Kumar, S., Gupta, R., Arora, R. et al. Severe oropharyngeal trauma caused by toothbrush – case report and review of 13 cases. Br Dent J 205, 443–447 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bdj.2008.893
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bdj.2008.893
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