Foreign body (FB) ingestion is common and usually benign. At-risk populations include children, elderly patients, psychiatric patients, prisoners, and those with esophageal disease. While most FBs pass spontaneously, 10–20% require endoscopic removal, and only ~1% need surgery. We report a case of toothbrush ingestion successfully removed endoscopically after multiple failed attempts.

Case: A 40-year-old obese woman with allergic rhinitis accidentally ingested a toothbrush during a coughing episode. She presented with nausea and gastric fullness. Physical examination and plain thoraco-abdominal radiographs were unremarkable (radiolucent object). Urgent esophagogastroduodenoscopy without sedation revealed the toothbrush lodged horizontally in the gastric fundus. After repositioning maneuvers and use of a diathermic snare, the object was turned vertically, grasped by the head, and removed successfully without complications. The patient was discharged the same day.

Conclusion: Long objects (>6 cm), such as toothbrushes, can become impacted in the stomach or duodenum and often require endoscopic removal. Use of a snare, basket, and appropriately sized overtube facilitates safe extraction. Management should be multidisciplinary, and preventive measures including patient and caregiver education are essential to reduce such incidents.