Electric toothbrushes induce electric current in fixed dental appliances by creating magnetic fields

Magnetic fields from electric toothbrushes promote corrosion in orthodontic stainless steel appliances but not in titanium appliances

“…We estimated the MFs within the 1-2000 Hz frequency range, in keeping with the preliminary study and with the previous literature, which stated that this was the appropriate range to monitor 2,5,6) . The MFs were estimated at 2 cm distances from the front, back, and right and left sides of activated or inactive electric toothbrushes 5) .…”

“…59 114303 1 881934202461), acting as the magnetic field (MF) sources, were prepared for this investigation based on the results of previous reports 5,6) . We also prepared three orthodontic wire materials (SUS304, Suzuki stainless steel wire, Mitsuba Ortho Magnetic fields from electric toothbrushes promote corrosion in orthodontic stainless steel appliances but not in titanium appliances Supply Inc., Tokyo, Japan; β-titanium (β-Ti, Ti-11.5Mo-6Zr-4.5Sn) 11) , Bendalloy, Rocky Mountain Morita Inc., Tokyo, Japan; and nickel-titanium (NiTi), Sentalloy, Tomy International Inc., Tokyo, Japan).…”

“…The MFs produced by the electric toothbrushes and their frequencies were detected and evaluated using a spectrum analyzer (SPECTRAN NF-5035, Aaronia AB Inc., Euscheid, Germany) 5,6) . We estimated the MFs within the 1-2000 Hz frequency range, in keeping with the preliminary study and with the previous literature, which stated that this was the appropriate range to monitor 2,5,6) .…”

“…However, the currents induced by the toothbrushes are unlike galvanic currents 4) . Galvanic currents, which are direct currents, exhibited high voltages (several tens to hundreds of mV) with low currents (several tens to hundreds of nA), whereas the electric currents induced by electric toothbrushes were of the order of µA to mA with a voltage range of µV to mV 5) . These findings seemed to indicate that the galvanic currents were one of the causes of metal corrosion, whereas the electric currents induced in dental appliances should not be a direct cause of metal corrosion.…”

“…Many home electrical appliances generate low-frequency MFs that could induce electric currents in the human body and within any metallic objects or devices worn in or on the body 2,4) . Previous reports showed that MFs from electric toothbrushes could induce alternating electric currents in metallic dental appliances and teeth 5,6) . Electric currents in oral appliances, e.g.…”