Poll: What Type of Toothbrush Do You Use?

I currently use a manual, but want to switch to an electric because grazes to the inside of my mouth from manual brushes frequently become mouth ulcers (or canker sores, if you're American).

 

I used an electric toothbrush before tinnitus. Now manual.

 

I use a Rotadent toothbrush. Been using it since before tinnitus.

I brush too hard with manual brushes.

 

I use both. But I used the electric more.

 

I almost forgot. If you are getting canker sores a lot, switch to a toothpaste that doesn't have Sodium Lauryl Sulfate. It worked for me.

 

Manual.

 

Yeah, same situation here.

I dream most days about going back to electric... although, I think my use of them might have contributed to the final noise trauma that broke the camels back, so to speak.

Not that I'm saying electric toothbrushes cause tinnitus, but because of my early onset OCD, from the age of 12 I would brush my teeth with an electric for like an hour, twice a day.

 

I've never seen one of these before. How do they work?

 

This is what I'm thinking of doing. Going for a combination of using both a manual and electric. That way I can go back to using the electrics I miss so much, but reduce the time I'm using them for = less risk of any conductive noise damage.

 

HAHA appreciate this. Yes, I have given the SLS free toothpastes a go, but I have to admit, they just don't make my teeth feel as clean as a good frothy mainstream brand. It sounds bizarre considering I took the time to post this problem, but I'd actually take the canker sores over not having a mouth that feels almost sterile .

 

I have always used both because you’re supposed to, as different toothbrushes, reach different parts.

P.S. You obviously feel like the sword of Damocles is hanging over your head. Just don’t jump up, and you’ll be fine.

 

Like what?

Is there anyone here on an anti-fluoride toothpaste ideal so their paste is accordingly something else?

Electric toothbrushes are supposedly better (than MANUAL) but the problem is most are loud. What is even worse is it's going in your mouth and close to your ears.

Earplugs won't help because of the occlusion effect? Or maybe it's one option although it would be annoying.

I don't think any studies have ever been done on whether it impacts hearing or tinnitus. Correct? If not, please share your findings.

 

Going to the dentist for dental work is not good either though. It's also noisy unless you are fortunate to be able to visit offices with the highest, most modern technology.

An electric toothbrush is supposedly more effective than a manual one.

 

Why? Are electric toothbrushes?

I use a manual brush too. I may consider buying an electric one though, any recommendations?

 

Hi @PeteJ.

Yeah, I don't know about toothpastes without fluoride, but in regards to what @kingsfan was saying, the most popular brand of Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (the surfactant that makes the toothpaste foam) free toothpaste are a couple of the Sensodynes. One of them uses Sodium Cocoyl Taurate, which is a surfactant derived from coconuts, but for me this still doesn't quite make my teeth feel squeaky clean, and the fact that it contains NovaMin, which makes things taste funny all day, I decided to go back to my old brand of toothpaste.

Yep, you're right about this, which is why I stopped using electrics when I first developed tinnitus. Earplugs won't do anything for the noise, because the head is causing the noise to be conducted through the jaw and skull directly to the inner ear; which is why I'm intending to give them a try, but for a very short period of time, twice a day.

In any case, I'm going to go ahead with this idea of mixing up manual and electric. Couple minutes manual and then a couple of minutes electric (oscillating) and I'll let everyone know if anything goes wrong because of it.

But absolutely, no studies have ever been done around this.

Again, totally agree. I just thank God every day I've never had to have a filling or root canal treatment (as yet).

I remember going to a hygienist two years ago to get my teeth polished and through some mercy, she understood what tinnitus was and opted to use Airflow to clean my teeth for the majority of the procedure (which with foam earplugs in, caused me no discomfort at all).

 

Burt's Bees is an option. I've been using the brand Hello from Target lately.

Looks like Burt's Bees also has a Fluoride-free option.

 

They are supposed to mimic the brushes the dentists use I guess? They spin all the way around unlike the Oral B ones that just oscillate. I don't know if it's better or not, but they are pretty gentle. I have gum issues from brushing too hard.

 

I was always worried that the sound/vibrations would irritate my tinnitus, which is very reactive.

I used a standard Oral-B one, always did the job.

 

Just realised I never reported back in this thread.

So I gave this ▲ a try, on and off, for about 2 months, but in the end called it a day and gave the Electric (Oscillating) toothbrush to a family member.

Not because it was spiking my tinnitus (as far as I was aware), but because it was causing me to focus on my tinnitus a lot after I had used it (listening for any damage/difference it might have triggered), which in turn was affecting my concentration throughout the day.

Having given it a go myself now, I have to say I'm inclined to agree with this post by @Louise I found back when I was deliberating on returning to an electric toothbrush, "post-habituation".

Also I couldn't use it at night, because the mild anxiety I was experiencing after having used it in the day would interfere with my sleep.

So in conclusion, while the introduction of an Electric (Oscillating) (just some of the time) didn't make my tinnitus any worse, it was disrupting the equilibrium I've finally settled into over the course of a decade, and I just feel overall safer with a Manual brush -even if it does make me more prone to cuts and mouth ulcers/"canker sores" (always going to be the lesser of the two evils when compared with tinnitus)- so I'll be sticking with those from now on.

 

Manual toothbrush. I also use a manual shaving razor.

 

My old lady's pubic hairs.

 

Ah FFS @Daniel Lion, where were you when I was making the poll?

Completely forgot to add the old lady's pubic hairs option.

Can one of the Moderators maybe get on that and fix it so @Daniel Lion can vote?

 

I've always used my electric toothbrush when I had my mild tinnitus and I never noticed it doing anything to my tinnitus. It didn't spike or get loud, maybe I was that habituated and tuned out of it that I never noticed.

I never assumed an electric toothbrush could cause a spike so maybe I just didn't have that worry.

Now I do.

Got mine out again as I do feel it cleans my teeth better than a manual.