Is Your Gag Reflex Getting The Best Of You? Try These 7 Tips

A gag reflex is a natural contraction that occurs when the tonsils come into contact with an unfamiliar object hence causing the back of your throat to contract. It prevents choking. It becomes less useful once it's overactive. Contrary to most people's opinions, there is more than one way of suppressing your gag reflex. Gag reflex can often be unbearable especially when cleaning your back molars. Some may puke when doing this. Others find it difficult engaging in oral sex. How to get rid of your gag reflex fast? Follow these healthy tips for you to be able to achieve your ultimate goal, one day at a time. 1. Consult Your Dentist Share your pain with the one person who's suited to take care of things like these. The only thing that makes people with an overactive gag reflex avoid seeing a dentist is fear. Fear that things may go awfully wrong. Don't be one of those people. When you trust your dentist, you can are comfortable throughout the procedure. Your dentist will advise you on what procedure needs to be taken. You will benefit from this as you can tell him/her where to direct the tools in your mouth at the right angles for you not to gag. 2. Consider Acupuncture and Hypnosis If your overactive gag reflex is as a result of psychological trauma, this method may work for you. This will engage your subconscious mind by implanting lifestyle adaptations, concepts, and ideas. Hypnotherapy will basically relieve you of your pain by putting you in a trance-like condition. Acupuncture is a second option to hypnosis. Research has shown that ear acupuncture assists in keeping gagging away, though its effects are still unknown. Remember, this is just an alternative. You can try this if you're not comfortable with hypnosis. 3. Add Pressure To The Point Between Your Thumb and Index Finger The effects of the gag reflex are stopped by applying pressure to the Hegu point (the point between your thumb and index finger). This will allow you to have an effective intrusion into the throat without any gagging sensation. Studies have shown that doing this will allow gag reflex patients to sit through procedures of up to 30 minutes. 4. Relax Your Mind Even though gag reflex is mostly brought about by physiological and psychological reactions, the mental aspect also involved in a significant way. The mind reacts based on previous encounters with dentists that went awfully wrong. The same thing is replayed in your mind and you tend to have it again. Have a relaxed state of mind. Don't engage your mind negatively. Have a habit of taking controlled breaths so as to achieve this. As mentioned in the second step, you can seek the help of a hypnotherapist to assist you if you find relaxing not so easy to do. 5. Brush Your Teeth Strategically When dealing with gag reflex, don't just use any brush out there. An electric brush is highly recommended. Other brushes tend to make brushing less comfortable and more difficult. The electric brush, on the other hand, makes you less likely to trigger your gag reflex. The point of using this is for you to have minimal jerky movements. Set it on the slower speed to avoid going contrary to this. Start with the areas you're comfortable with brushing first, then gradually proceed to other areas until your whole mouth is covered. You may find it easy to brush your teeth with your lips closed. What time do you feel comfortable brushing your teeth? Morning perhaps? Later times of the day (in the evening or at night) would be more suitable. 6. Squeeze Your Thumb Doing this will be beneficial in your fight against gag reflexes. Your left thumb should be encircled in a fist to get the job thoroughly done. The pressure on your thumb will assist in distracting you and easing of the throat muscles thus making dental work easier. 7. Know What Triggers The Gag Reflex The cause of the gag reflex is essential in getting rid of it. It could be caused by a number of reasons. They vary from one person to another. If gag reflexes occur when taking a shower, your cleanser could be the cause of it. If it occurs when brushing your teeth, the tooth glue could be the problem. Either way, be able to address these issues to your dentist for him/her to know how to help.