electric toothbrush, and Trigeminal Neuralgia

[MSbeGone]

hello everyone, does anyone use an electric toothbrush and they also have trigeminal neuralgia?, I stopped using my electric toothbrush in fear of the pressure causing/triggering the pain. Now I feel as though my teeth are not as clean.

[erash]

I’d read the electric tooth brush can exacerbate TN.

[MSbeGone in reply to erash]

Thanks

[goatgal]

My first long ago Sonic Care toothbrush did not trigger my TN. It finally quit; when I got around to replacing it, the new model provoked unpleasant sensations that I feared would set off the TN. I use it gingerly and very carefully once or twice a week because it does do a good job but the energy pulses set the nerves to buzzing and tingling if I let any part of it touch soft tissue.

[MSbeGone in reply to goatgal]

Thank you, I feel that that’s a good idea to use it once or twice a week.

[Misty2024]

Oh my gosh! Did you say trigeminal pain? I am sitting here trying to find what can help my trigeminal pain! Please respond to me. I hurt terribly!

[MSbeGone in reply to Misty2024]

I have to use a mouthguard and that helps tremendously. For medicine I take carbamazepine and gabapentin. When I feel the pain coming on, I do not tense up. I try my best to relax and breathe, and that helps some.

[Misty2024 in reply to MSbeGone]

I am taking gabapentin. What is carbamazepine? Should I talk to my neurologist about that one? I am so freaked out and yet you're saying I need to relax and breathe. This is rough...

[MSbeGone in reply to Misty2024]

I know that it is rough, scary and painful. You can definitely talk to your neurologist about carbamazepine, which are pills. I also had a procedure done Precutaneous Radiofrequency procedure which worked. After receiving lidocaine and a couple different nerve blocks that did not work. I also had to take Tylenol #3 which worked but is hard to get because it is an opioid, I was also told to try norco’s.

[stepsforNeeC in reply to Misty2024]

Oh My God, you guys never cease to amaze me with how much we help each other!!!! Remember my post about maybe a month ago? I said I feel like something is stabbing me in my ears??? Regular PCP checked my ears, said they were fine! But I still wear my retainer at night from having “Adult Braces “ -I bet that’s it!!!!! I also had my teeth cleaned and the needle I believe triggered pain.

[MSbeGone in reply to stepsforNeeC]

Before Trigeminal neuralgia I was repeatedly told that my ears were fine, then finally I was referred to an ear nose and throat Doctor Who diagnosed me with TMJ and that is why I wear a mouthguard which is for me grinding my teeth at night when I’m sleep. After the TN episodes, I began googling things and found TN through descriptions before going to an emergency room after scaring my family who diagnosed me with trigeminal neuralgia. We have to help each other, this group is how I found out that Tylenol #3 will help with my pain when other medication did not help at all..

[bxrmom]

I wonder if a different type of electric toothbrush would be better? I have not experience with Trigeminal Neuralgia. I use a battery operated Oral B tooth brush:

walmart.com/ip/Oral-B-Compl...

There is this other Oral B batter toothbrush with a smaller toothbrush head:

walmart.com/ip/Oral-B-Revol...

Hope you are able to find something that works better for you that doesn't cause pain. Please keep us updated.

[MSbeGone in reply to bxrmom]

Thank you, I am thinking of the pressure that the electric toothbrush puts on the gums and teeth. I am so scared to try my toothbrush because the pain from the trigeminal neuralgia is too painful

[Tazmanian]

I use an electric toothbrush but don't have TN you might want to try a water pick good luck

[MSbeGone]

thank you. I never thought of a water pic

[Sagesewer]

Hello,

I have Trigeminal Neuralgia and was using an electric toothbrush. I had and have the same fear. What works for me is a soft toothbrush, Crest toothpaste either with Scope or some kind of whitening feature in it, Smile T dental floss ( for those with hand dexterity issues, these are a God send), Act Enamel alcohol free. I also take Carbamazine. This all works for me.

My problem is finding a dentist who can accommodate my power wheelchair in the exam and cleaning room.

[Misty2024 in reply to Sagesewer]

The Carbamazine makes me dizzy but it is working. I would say a few more days and I hope I can quit.

[Cwright170994 in reply to Misty2024]

I'm an ex-user of carbamazepine, all because I was prescribed it when I was admitted to hospital in an emergency (stays epilipticus), and the doctors there didn't know that it negatively interacts with the lamotrigine I was already on! It took a country-wide shortage of it, my neurologist to question why I was on it, and look into the medication and drugs it interacts with to get me off it. Would have saved me from a LOT of status epilipticus events between then and 2023 🙄

[MSbeGone]

Thank you, and I do have hand dexterity issues so I appreciate the rundown