Traumatic implantation of a toothbrush: an unusual hazard of oral hygiene.

Implantation of foreign bodies into the oral soft tissues is an accident that occurs with some frequency, particularly in young children, for whom the mouth is an important sensory organ. The offending object is usually sharp; pencils are the most commonly reported object. A case is presented of a child who fell, implanting a toothbrush into her buccal soft tissues. The problems incurred in removing such an object are presented. This case demonstrates the need for parental vigilance while children are performing oral hygiene procedures.