Why Microcurrent Hurts Your Teeth or Leaves a Metallic Taste
Medically reviewed by
4 independent reviewers
Andrew Conrad Barile, PT, DPT
Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) | Licensed Physical Therapist (PT) | CEO and Founder, Xtreem Pulse LLC
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Dr. Andrew Conrad Barile is a Doctor of Physical Therapy and the CEO and Founder of Xtreem Pulse LLC, the engineering company behind PureLift. He earned his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Daemen College and is a licensed physical therapist.
He brings over two decades of clinical and entrepreneurial experience across physical therapy, craniosacral therapy and medical device innovation, built on a working knowledge of human anatomy and muscle physiology.
For PureLift LAB he reviews how current is delivered across all ten levels, from sub-sensory nanocurrent and skin-level microcurrent to motor-level EMS, and how the Infuse pass fits into the same ten-minute routine.
Bertica M. Rubio, M.D.
Board-Certified Physician, Dartmouth Medical School | Medical Director, Antiaging Regenerative Medicine Clinic
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Dr. Bertica M. Rubio is a board-certified physician and Medical Director of the Antiaging Regenerative Medicine Clinic in Redlands, California. She earned her Doctor of Medicine from Dartmouth Medical School and completed her pediatrics residency at UC Irvine Medical Center.
With decades of clinical experience, she specialises in age management medicine, regenerative medicine, wound healing and growth factor therapies, and her practice integrates evidence-based medical science with advanced aesthetic treatment.
For PureLift LAB she reviews articles for medical accuracy across the whole dial, from the gentle nanocurrent and microcurrent settings through to muscle-level EMS and the Infuse pass.
Daniel Grinberg, MD, FACS
Board-Certified Otolaryngologist | Head and Neck Surgeon | Fellow, American College of Surgeons | Mount Sinai
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Daniel Grinberg, MD, FACS is a board-certified otolaryngologist and head and neck surgeon at ENT and Allergy Associates in West Nyack, New York. He earned his medical degree from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.
He completed his otolaryngology residency at New York University Medical Center, serves as Assistant Clinical Professor at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, and is a Fellow of both the American College of Surgeons and the American Academy of Otolaryngology.
For PureLift LAB he brings a wider clinical lens, connecting at-home facial stimulation from microcurrent to EMS to the anatomy underneath, with the same rigour we apply to every device specification.
Prof. Dr. med. Ivo Buschmann
Chair of Angiology, Medizinische Hochschule Brandenburg | Clinic Director, University Clinic for Angiology
Read bio
Prof. Dr. med. Ivo Buschmann is Chair of Angiology at the Medizinische Hochschule Brandenburg Theodor Fontane and Clinic Director of the University Clinic for Angiology at the Brandenburg University Hospital.
He trained at the University of Hamburg, was a Max Planck Society Fellow at the Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, and held senior consultant posts at the Charite Universitatsmedizin Berlin before his appointment as Chair in 2016.
One of Europe's leading authorities on arteriogenesis, with over 150 peer-reviewed publications and US and EU patents, he reviews for PureLift LAB how the evidence on electrical stimulation is read and where its limits lie.
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A metallic taste or a buzzing in the teeth usually happens when current passes near the jaw, mouth or metal dental work, and it is commonly reduced by lowering the level, adding gel and moving the device slightly away from the teeth.
This article explains the cause and the fixes, such as:
- why the taste happens
- why teeth can buzz or ache
- which areas trigger it
- how to stop it
- when to stop and ask a dentist
and many more!
We make facial current devices and hear this question often, so here is what usually helps.
Key Points:
The jaw, chin and the area above the upper lip sit close to the teeth, so current there can be felt in the mouth.
Metal fillings, crowns and other dental work can make the sensation stronger.
A metallic taste during a session is commonly reported and usually stops when the session ends.
Lower the level, add more gel and keep the contact points on the jawbone rather than over the teeth.
If pain continues after a session or a tooth stays sensitive, stop and see your dentist.
Why the metallic taste happens
When current passes close to the mouth, it can stimulate taste nerves and interact with saliva, which many people notice as a metallic taste.
It is a commonly reported sensation that usually fades as soon as the session ends.
Why teeth can buzz or ache
The roots of the lower and upper teeth sit just under the skin of the jaw and upper lip. Current passing nearby can be felt as a buzz or a dull ache.
Metal fillings, crowns and bridges can make this stronger. See our article on microcurrent with dental work.
Which areas trigger it
Under the chin and along the lower jaw.
Above the upper lip and around the mouth.
The cheeks close to the upper molars. The zones are in our zone guide.
How to stop it
Lower the level for the jaw and mouth area.
Add more gel so the current spreads evenly, since a dry patch concentrates it. See our article on stinging.
Keep the contact points on the jawbone and glide outward toward the ear rather than pressing over the teeth.
Close your mouth gently with your teeth slightly apart.
A step by step routine that avoids the problem
Start with clean skin and a thick layer of conductive gel over the jaw and lower face.
Begin the session on the forehead and cheeks at your usual level, then drop one or two levels before you reach the jaw and mouth.
Glide from the center of the chin outward along the jawbone toward the ear, keeping the contact points on bone rather than on the soft area over the teeth.
Skip the area directly above the upper lip if you still feel your teeth, and work the cheeks from the side of the nose outward instead.
Most people find the taste and the buzz fade once they settle on the right level for the lower face.
When to stop
If tooth pain continues after the session, or a tooth stays sensitive, stop using the device on that area and see your dentist.
If you have recent dental work, ask your dentist before resuming.
Our devices run nanocurrent at level 1, microcurrent at level 2 and EMS from level 3 to 10 on one dial, with a ten minute session and no more than three minutes per side of the face, and work with any water-based conductive serum.
Do not use any facial current device if you have a pacemaker or other implanted electronic device, if you are pregnant or if you have epilepsy, and skip broken or irritated skin. The full list is in our safety article.
Frequently asked questions
Why does microcurrent leave a metallic taste
Current passing near the mouth can stimulate taste nerves and interact with saliva. It usually stops when the session ends.
Why does my microcurrent device hurt my teeth
The tooth roots sit just under the skin of the jaw and upper lip, and metal dental work can make the sensation stronger.
Is a metallic taste from microcurrent dangerous
It is commonly reported and usually harmless. Stop if you feel pain that continues afterward.
How do I stop microcurrent zapping my teeth
Lower the level, add gel and keep the device on the jawbone rather than over the teeth.
Should I see a dentist
Yes, if a tooth stays painful or sensitive after a session.
This article sits inside our full map of the category, where we set out all 33 devices we track, what each one carries and what each brand publishes: Nine Technologies on One Dial, What the Rest of the Market Actually Carries.