A recent story circulating the internet tells of a woman who confessed to masturbating with her electric toothbrush. This is not recommended, as it could lead to a range of dental and vaginal issues, including infections.
However, toothbrushes can be used as a DIY vibrator and the vibrations they emit are pretty powerful. Plus, you can find them for a fraction of the price of a dedicated sex toy.
1. Turn it on
The internet is filled with stories of people using their toothbrushes as vibrators. It’s a classic DIY solution, but there are better ways to get the job done, and purpose-built sex toys are a safer bet.
The problem is that toothbrushes aren’t designed to be inserted into the vagina or used as a vibrator. They’re prone to breakage and can introduce bacteria from the oral cavity into the vagina, leading to irritation and discomfort. Plus, they aren’t sealed or watertight, making them susceptible to battery-acid leakage and contamination with oral mucus and saliva.
That’s why gynecologist Alyssa Dweck recommends against this masturbation method in a recent Twitter post. “As a general rule, it’s best to avoid using anything that isn’t made for sexual play because it exposes you to potential problems like battery-acid leakage or contamination,” she says. “Use only properly cleaned sex toys that are appropriate for insertion.”
A woman from Exeter recently had some Facebook users do a double take when she posted photos of her pink electric toothbrush. The video she posted got over 7,000 likes and 698 comments from confused (and amused) couponers.
In her video, she holds the toothbrush against her clitoris while explaining how to use it as a vibrator. She recommends starting slowly, and moving it up to the higher speed settings to get a “fuller sensation.” To make the experiment even more realistic, she adds a little bit of toothpaste to the brush head to boost the vibrations.
2. Nestle it against your clitoris
While many women enjoy masturbating with their electric toothbrushes — especially if the brush end vibrates — experts warn that using it as a penetrative device can cause serious damage. Consultant gynaecologist Anne Henderson told the Sun Online that she would have ‘serious concerns’ about using the handle and bristles of an electric toothbrush in your lady area as it could injure or lacerate your sensitive vulva.
She also warned that toothbrushes weren’t designed to be used as penetrative sex toys, and that using them in this way could lead to infection from bacteria from your oral cavity, as well as battery acid leakage. She recommended that you instead stick to the cheaper, purpose-built sex toys available for your pleasure.
But despite the risks, some people are continuing to ‘toothbrush masturbate’ with their toothbrushes — particularly on social media. A recent post by a woman in the Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK Facebook group left some members doing a double take as she shared photos of her pink toothbrush buzzing in her hand. It racked up over 711 likes and 698 comments from confused and entertained Facebook users.
3. Hold it horizontally against your genitals
Using a toothbrush to masturbate is not only common, but can be very enjoyable. However, you should never put a dirty toothbrush in your vagina or penis and you should make sure to always clean your DIY vibrator before and after use, to prevent any unwanted germs from getting into your sensitive areas.
Besides, there are plenty of proper vibrators to choose from these days. They usually buzz just as hard, but they’re a lot more discreet than a toothbrush. And they’re pretty cheap, too!
Just take care not to point the bristles inside your vulva or anus, as this can hurt. And always use a sanitizer after cleaning your toothbrush, so you don’t end up with any leftover toothpaste in your vagina.
Another option is a beauty tool called an eyebrow brush, which has a body similar to that of a toothbrush and can be used in the same way. Its thorny head can be massaged against the clitoris for arousal and the rotating movement of the brush can increase sensation.
In September, a woman from Exeter took to the Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK group on Facebook to show off her electric toothbrush—but her fans did a double take when they noticed it looked like a sex toy. And while some users have gotten turned on by the technique (and even shared their toothbrush masturbation stories online), others are worried it could cause infections.
4. Move it back and forth
While you’re probably not going to be able to use the whole toothbrush as a vibrator (especially with the pointy brush end in place), the flat backside of a regular toothbrush can do the trick. People on Reddit have confessed to using their toothbrushes as a kind of oral clitoris stimulator by inserting the back side into bodily orifices.
If you’re not careful, however, it’s easy to get scratched by the bristles while you play with your oral hygiene tool. You may also end up with a blob of toothpaste in your vulva or a mouth full of germs, not to mention that the electric vibrations can be quite intense.
Fortunately, some companies make body-safe toothbrush attachments designed specifically to vibrate and tease the clitoris. These vibrators, like Eroscia’s Allore, Ceola and Okamei, are meant to attach seamlessly onto the handle of an electric toothbrush and can deliver orgasm-inducing vibrations at 3x the normal rate.
It’s also worth noting that using a toothbrush as a masturbator isn’t recommended by any medical professionals, even if you only use the backside of the brush or the metal stem to stimulate your clitoris. Toothbrushes are not sealed or made of hygienic materials to be used for penetration, and the toothbrush head can be contaminated with STIs and bacteria. In addition, a gynecologist tells Well+Good that it’s also potentially dangerous to use the brush part of an electric toothbrush as a vaginal or vulva stimulator, because you might transfer any infections in your mouth to your vulva and vice versa.
