Brushing Teeth Makes Me Sick!

[Soph01]

Hi, I seem to have a problem with the daily brush of my teeth in that about half way through my 2 minutes, I have a real need to gag and eventually be sick (just once). Its certainly got worse and I use an electric toothbrush. I'm perfectly well and have good teeth but I would like to know what's causing it and if I can do something to help? I did read flavourless toothpaste works? I always thought its because I would swallow toothpaste but its not the case.

Any suggestions would be great, sorry its not a pleasant subject! x

[jno]

never heard of that; but trying a different toothpaste would be my first move.

[DaisyNonna]

No, it is the brush in the mouth.

[ummmm]

Happens to me most days. Someone suggested you hum as you brush...and it does help. I think it's psychological though. You're expecting to start gagging and put it in your own head.

I would like to find a flavourless toothpaste because I think the mint flavour associate with it.

It's horrible...

[Old_Geezer]

Perhaps the electric toothbrush is flicking toothpaste to the back of your throat ? Probably have an oversensitive gag reflex ? Can only suggest gradually getting used to it.

[Soph01]

Thank you Ummmm. its nice to know of others who have a similar problem. Will try a different toothpaste.

[jno]

there's advice here on dealing with your gag reflex, which may well be the problem if it isn't something in the toothpaste itself that's causing a reaction

http://www.wikihow.com/Suppress-the-Gag-Reflex

[Caran]

You could have a hiatus hernia. I have one and I sometimes gag when cleaning my teeth.

[ummmm]

Is it worse when brushing your back teeth?

[woofgang]

I have the same problem I manage it by using a small toothbrush head. For me an electric toothbrush is less of a problem than a manual one because I just have to move it around my mouth and don't actually have to make any brushing movements but maybe a manual might be better for you. If I get a cold with a cough then it gets harder to manage. What I do then, don't laugh, is stand one one leg while I brush my teeth. The focus on balancing distracts me from the toothbrushing...its a trick my dentist taught me...if you do another slightly difficult thing, mental arithmetic, stand on one leg, anything really that you have to concentrate on, then it takes the focus off your mouth. It might also be worth trying brushing more frequently for less time, so four one minute sessions instead of two two minute sessions until you are over this. You can get over it.

[ummmm]

I do the brushing more often. I'll try the standing on one leg. I gathered that's why I was told to hum....

[bunkmoreland]

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Body-and-Soul/Question851729.html
it was me who came up with the "humming" thing! Used it for a while and then didnt need it any more. The mind is a mad thing :-(

[ummmm]

Lol...nice one. Can't believe that was over 5 years ago!!

[bunkmoreland]

I know! Can still remember the relief of "the humming" working though ;-)Ab is certainly useful at times !

[rockyracoon]

I have a bad gagging problem when I brush my teeth, have done since I was a kid. Having a gastroscopy was great fun and getting impressions done at the dentist gives me shivers.

I've never heard of the humming or one leg tricks, will have to give them a go.

[janbee]

It's quite a common complaint. Happens to me every time I brush my choppers.
I always brush BEFORE I eat otherwise, there is sometimes a return journey by the food. Nasty...

All the best soph xx

[eanceoil]

I always gagged when brushing my teeth, had nothing to do with toothbrush, electric or regular, what toothpaste I used or if I was pregnant or not, I was told it was a stress thing, I have dentures now, still gag putting them in. Dentures due to ageing, not the gagging.

[ummmm]

I have to have my coffee in the morning because if I start gagging and have nothing to bring up I could be there for ages and it gets really painful. Then I have to settle down and go back and finish brushing my teeth. It's a friggin chore!

I still think it becomes psychological though....but then my OH thinks I'm a little bit nuts.

[Copacetic]

My Daughter has this problem as well, she is a bit better with sensodyne repair and protect toothpaste but like some have said distraction is key here.

[gumboot]

I suffer from this too and I'd recommend Sensodyne toothpaste as most of the variants seem mint free. At the moment, I'm using a great Colgate toothpaste I came across in a poundshop. The packaging bore more writing in Arabic (or similar) than English!!