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You were someone who was suffering from dental pain after eating or drinking. After doing a little research and reading different blogs on oral health, you decided to use floss and mouthwash regularly and change your toothbrush from a Manual to an electric one.
You just thought that finally, you could get rid of pain and irritation because you switched to a more reliable cleaning option. Still, the pain got worse after using an electric toothbrush, and you started wondering if it was a wrong decision? The answer to this question is a big no. Switching from a manual toothbrush to an electric one is always a good option.
If you are already suffering from pain then, using an electric toothbrush may trigger issues in your oral cavity as it cleans more effectively and reaches the area where a manual toothbrush can’t. Here we are going to take a look at some causes which may be culprits of tooth pain after using an electric toothbrush.
Tooth pain after using an electric toothbrush
Brushing too hard
The first and most common cause of pain after brushing is brushing with excessive pressure. Most people believe in the myth that brushing too hard can remove plaque or make teeth brighter. Such people ignore the pressure sensor warnings of electric toothbrushes and continue to brush vigorously. Eventually, their enamel wears off with time, and they feel pain after brushing.
Gingivitis
Gingivitis is a disease in which gums become sore and irritated because of wrong brushing techniques and inadequate oral hygiene. Such people suffer from excessive gum pain, dental pain, and bleeding after brushing. If the symptoms are ignored, and this condition is left untreated, then this condition progress to periodontitis and eventually teeth loss.
Teeth bleaching agents
If you want pearly teeth but don’t want to visit the dentist for this purpose, you start using at-home whitening kits. Using a home whitening kit is safe for a limited period. If you are using it without following guidelines and your product is not ADA approved, the results will be excessive pain in the teeth even after touching gently.
Dentine hypersensitivity
It is a condition in which your enamel chip off and your dentin is exposed to harmful external stimuli. A person suffering from dentin hypersensitivity feels a sharp pain in the teeth, which may travel to the brain. Most of the time, it is triggered by eating hot and cold. If this condition is left untreated, touching teeth and speaking can also cause excessive pain. It can be caused by abrasive brushing, harsh toothpaste, excessive use of mouthwash, enamel erosion, and the list goes on. Any factor that can damage enamel leads to hypersensitivity. If an already hypersensitive person switches to an electric toothbrush, he will experience more pain because of oscillations of an electric toothbrush. This pain is temporary and will soon replenish if you follow your dentist’s guidelines and use an electric toothbrush appropriately.
Pus pockets
It is a pocket packed with pus in the gums. Externally it will look like a small ball on the gums which will cause excessive pain when brushing with an electric toothbrush. You cannot treat this at home. If you observe such growth on gums, don’t brush on this growth and immediately contact your dentist for its treatment.
Cavities
One of the most common causes of tooth pain after brushing is cavities. When the cavity is starting to form or is a simple cavity, you will feel no pain even on brushing. Still, if you ignore the cavity formation, it will convert from simple to complex, resulting in excessive pain on brushing. To prevent this, regularly observe your teeth and if you feel any black or brownish holes, then immediately book an appointment with your dentist.
TMJ disorders
If you are someone who clenches your teeth or you chew bettle nut, then gradually, your TMJ muscle will become sore, and the opening and closing of your mouth will be affected. This will affect the cleaning of teeth, and brushing teeth in this condition will cause excessive pain in the teeth and the ears.
Cracked teeth
Another prevalent cause of oral caries is broken or cracked teeth. Sometimes, your anatomical crown may get damaged due to an accident, exposing dentin. In such conditions, any stimulus especially brushing, can cause unbearable pain in the teeth.
Dental procedures
Sometimes after different dental procedures such as scaling and whitening treatment, teeth become sensitive for a limited period. Brushing within two to three days after such treatment may cause excessive pain. For this purpose, you can ask your dentist, and they will guide you properly about maintaining oral hygiene in such cases.
Wear and tear of existing dental restorations
If you already have dental fillings, then after two to three years, your filling may get fractured and start leaking due to excessive wear and tear. This will cause bacterial build-up and will also damage enamel. If you specifically feel sensitivity and pain in your already carious teeth, then there is a need for the replacement of dental filling.
Enamel erosion
Another common and leading cause of dental pain after brushing is enamel erosion because of excessive acidic buildup in the mouth. Sometimes excessive acidic buildup in the mouth because of bad oral hygiene and dietary habits. Using an alcoholic Mouth exaggerates the acidic environment and slowly dissolves the enamel exposing dentin. In such conditions, brushing feels like torture for the oral cavity.
Treatment plan
Pain after brushing from an electric toothbrush is multifactorial, and mostly the culprit of the case is not your electric toothbrush but any other oral ailment. In most cases, maintaining good oral hygiene can reverse the sign and symptoms of the disease. Still, some diseases like pus pockets, TMJ disorder, and cracked teeth require special dental care and expert intervention. Even if you are suffering from slight pain, make sure to book an appointment with your oral hygienist so it can reverse the oral ailment at early stages without any physical or mental loss.