The gag reflex can occur when you brush your back molars or when the dentist is examining cavities, and all of this can put you in an unpleasant situation. You can find lots of ideas online for suppressing this reflex, but some methods are more effective than others. Use direct treatment, for example by numbing the throat or stimulating the taste buds on the tongue to stop vomiting. Over time, you can also use a toothbrush to reduce the gag reflex or practice focus shifting techniques to help relieve this reflex quickly.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Using Immediate Treatment
Step 1. Numb the throat
Objects that touch the throat can trigger the gag reflex. Use over-the-counter throat numbing sprays (eg Chloraseptic) to reduce throat sensitivity. Alternatively, you can use a cotton swab to apply a topical analgesic (which contains benzocaine) without a prescription. The effect can last for an hour, and the sensitivity to the throat will be reduced.
- Throat numbing sprays rarely cause side effects. However, stop using it immediately if you have vomiting, dizziness, nausea, drowsiness, and/or stomach cramps.
- Use benzocaine with caution. Cotton buds can trigger the gag or gagging reflex. Other side effects that can appear include fatigue, weakness, skin irritation around the ears, blue skin around the lips and fingertips, and shortness of breath.
- Avoid benzocaine completely if you are allergic to benzocaine. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about interactions of benzocaine with other over-the-counter medications, supplements/vitamins, or herbal medicines you are taking.
Step 2. Squeeze the thumb
Bend and insert your left thumb in the middle of your left hand, then make a fist. Place the thumb under the finger of the other hand. Squeeze firmly, but don't cause too much pain. This trick will put pressure on a point on the palm that controls the gag reflex.
Step 3. Place a pinch of salt on the tongue
Wet your fingertips and dip them in the salt, then rub the salt on your tongue. Salt can activate the taste buds on the front of the tongue and set off a chain reaction that temporarily suppresses the gag reflex.
There is another way to do this, which is to mix 1 teaspoon of salt with one glass of water, and use this solution to gargle. Don't forget to spit it out
Method 2 of 3: Reducing the Sensitivity of the Vomiting Reflex
Step 1. Find the point where the gag reflex occurs
This can be done by brushing the tongue with a toothbrush. You should focus more on the point closest to the front of your tongue where you feel like throwing up.
- Maybe you feel like throwing up early in the morning. To fix this, try to do activities that make you want to throw up in the afternoon or evening.
- Do not put your finger in your mouth because it can make you vomit.
Step 2. Brush the tongue over the area that triggers the gag reflex
Doing so will make you feel like throwing up, which is definitely not fun. However, this will not last long. Take about 10 seconds to brush the area (and you will continue to feel like throwing up). Stop this activity when you are going to sleep.
Repeat this action the next few nights at the same point. The urge to vomit will gradually decrease each time you do this
Step 3. Expand the brushed area
If the gag reflex was gone when you brushed the first starting point, it's time to expand the area further back. Try brushing 5-10 mm behind the initial trigger point. Repeat the process as you did at the first vomiting trigger point.
Step 4. Move the brushing area further back
Do this every time you manage to reduce the sensitivity of the gag reflex in a small area. Continue moving the brush further inwards until you reach the point of the tongue furthest away. Eventually, the toothbrush will reach the throat (if you haven't already).
Step 5. Reduce the sensitivity of the gag reflex every day
Do not be discouraged. The process can take a month. After the process is over, you won't feel the urge to vomit when the doctor touches your throat. You may have to repeat this process from time to time because the gag reflex may reappear.
A great way to keep the gag reflex from coming back is to brush your tongue regularly. Besides helping suppress the gag reflex, this action also makes your breath fresh
Method 3 of 3: Shifting Focus
Step 1. Do some meditation practice
Ask your dentist if you can wear earplugs to drown out the sound of the equipment he uses while you are having a check-up at his clinic. This can make you focus more on calming your mind and forgetting the activities around your throat. If you feel a strong urge to sleep, ask for a brace to keep your jaw open.
Step 2. Hum a song
Humming keeps you breathing, and this is very important as an act of relaxation. You'll also have a hard time throwing up when you hum. Try doing this at the dentist's office when you have an X-ray or while a tooth is being extracted.
Step 3. Lift one leg slightly
Do this while you are sitting or lying in the dentist's chair. Concentrate on keeping the leg elevated. Switch to the other leg if you feel tired. This trick can distract from activities that occur in the mouth and near the throat.
Warning: This trick will not work properly if you place one foot on top of the other
Step 4. Listen to music
Ask your dentist if you can listen to MP3s while your teeth are being cleaned or filled. Play a song that makes your mind wander or something that grabs your full attention. This way, you will be busy focusing your mind on the song being played without paying attention to what the dentist is doing.
Tips
- Practice eating foods that make you feel like throwing up. If you still feel like throwing up, avoid these foods.
- Don't eat right before engaging in activities that trigger the gag reflex. This can minimize the chance of vomiting.
Warning
- When you're working on the gag reflex with a toothbrush, don't start too far back. While you can desensitize the gag reflex at the back of your tongue without first handling the front of your tongue, that's not what you're trying to achieve.
- Remember, the gag reflex is your body's attempt to keep you from choking. Do not try to permanently desensitize the throat to the gag reflex.
- The urge to vomit excessively can be a sign of a serious condition, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which is related to the stomach and the levels of acid in it. See a doctor if you are also experiencing acid reflux or a burning sensation/sour taste in the stomach.
