Managing a strong gag reflex

The gag reflex is intended to protect your airway from food or foreign objects. In this short video, I briefly outline 3 tips for helping control it.

1) Keep breathing! It’s impossible to swallow and breathe at the same time (unless you are a dog or newborn baby!) Similarly you can’t breathe and be sick or gag at the same time. So tip number one is focus on your breathing - seal the back of your mouth as if gargling and breathe through the nose!

2) Lift your left leg 6 inches off the dental chair. This puts strain in the muscles of the leg and has proven to be a great technique to help distract your brain and reduce gagging during dental treatment.

3) Acupressure at point CV24. This works for treatment and also if you struggle when brushing. Press on your chin at the point I demonstrate in the video for 30 seconds before, and if possible, during the treatment/brushing.

Remember - dentists treat thousands of people and encounter strong gag reflexes fairly frequently. A dentist who works in anxiety management may have greater experience in helping severe cases and may have other things that can help such as conscious sedation. You can find a dentist near you at www.defactodentists.com. There is no need to be embarrassed or to avoid getting the treatment you need because of it.

It’s also worth mentioning that your dentist, hygienist or therapist can also help recommend the best oral healthcare products if you find brushing difficult. Some people find that such as the waterpik and electric brushes make cleaning easier (for these and other products see www.yourdentistrecommends.com)