Tips For Gag Reflex

Gag Reflex can be frustrating and unpleasant experience for someone who needs treatment for tooth cavity and orthodontic brace appliances. Gag Reflex is a contraction of the back of the throat caused when touching the back of the tongue, the side of the tongue, the area around the tonsils and even the back of the throat. Gagging happens while touching those area during dental treatments. X-Ray taken during tooth cavities test can also cause gag reflex. Dental impression can also trigger to gag reflex easily but it is a mandatory before starting of orthodontic treatments. Dental impression are also done for mensuration to wear bite plate. Minor gag reflex can also happen during brushing teeth and cleaning teeth. High sensitivity to gag reflex can make brushing impossible daily. Fear to gag reflex beforehand can causie gag to engage with slight opening of mouth during treatment.

Gag Reflex During Dental Impression 

Getting dental impression is never easy and can be nightmare to someone who is going to face it. Some people are highly sensitive to gag reflex. When  your body senses something other than air headed towards your larynx, pharynx or trachea your muscles spasm and contract uncontrollably as your body tries to force foreign objects outside immediately. It can also cause vomiting if foreign objects are not kept out timely. Your dentist will first put different size of dental impression trays in your mouth. You have to open your mouth large for putting that tray. The tray can touch your molar teeth area and induce gag reflex simultaneously but it is only mild. Difficult situation is when you have to put dental impression solids inside your mouth opening wide for some minutes. At this point you may feel severe gag reflex and put yourself the tray out of the mouth. This may make treatment impossible and further moving in another stage. Swallowing dental impression material maybe dangerous because they become hard solid within few seconds after putting inside the mouth and it can stuck in the throat badly. It can also cause chocking because the dental impression material is too hard solid that can hardly pass down. For this terrible reason I have pinpointed the methods which can minimize gag reflex.

Tips To Reduce Gag Reflex

1. Sit Up

If you are in lying on your back then tell your doctor to let you sit up. This helps the impression material to ooze forward in case of gag reflex which can also prevent choking meanwhile. Talk to your doctor to put the impression slowly as per your comfort zone. Open your mouth slowly to put the dental impression inside.

2. Breath Through Your Nose 

Don't breathe through your mouth which can make your throat dry and trigger gag reflex easily. Try to breath from your nose conentrating upper area. Breathe slowly. If you are congested then cure it first or put nasal sprays to remove congestion. Your doctor can also advice you to breathe from your nose.

3. Tolerate 

Let the dentist do dental impression in his own way. You can distract yourself from what's happening on your mouth by focusing mind on something important. Move your legs up and down. Don't panic and breathe easy. Try to endure discomfort for some period.

4. Making A Fist

Study shows making a Fist in a left hand can make gag reflex less severe. Try to squeeze your fist slowly and tightly. Doctor may also recommend you to open your eyes if you are closing it.

5. Talk To Doctor

There are many patient to be coming for same treatments at the same time when doctor will hardly converse you during treatment so tell doctor about your problems in detail and ask what can they do for your discomfort. Try to take a help from other health assistant too.

6. Nitrous Oxide 

In severe case Nitrous Oxide is administered for stopping gag reflex. Ask your doctor if he can provide laughing gas at initial state.

Tooth X-Ray is important for treating tooth cavities while dental impression is an essential part of orthodontic treatment to give you a great smile and fix the misalignment of the teeth. Try to follow the tips i have mentioned in my post which help reduce gag reflex.