Okay, my day to bring up seemingly inconsequential questions about tuna prices and the like. (Originally I had "gagging" instead of gag reflex, but figured people would think it was a defense thread-- LOL). Anyway, this request for suggestions is not inconsequential to me. Not to get overly personal, but when it comes to toothbrushing and flossing and a few other things, I have a very overractive gag reflex. Too much foam... one brush stroke too many... hitting the wrong area of the mouth... you name it, I gag. Just thinking about it, I gag.

And if y2k is such that we are without running water-- well, it's hard enough for me to do proper dental care _with_ running water.

Does anyone have any 'tried and true' methods for lessening the gag reflex? Please no jokes at my expense. Gagging, dry heaves and throwing up are not my idea of fun.

-- winter wondering (winterwondering@yahoo.com), August 13, 1999

Answers

You have to "psyche" yourself NOT to gag.

-- Kristi (securxsys@cs.com), August 13, 1999.

When we were in the ministry, a poor mother came to us distraught. Her daughter had such a violent gag reflex that she'd been unable to ever have dental work, and now her teeth were rotting and she needed to have them all extracted. At the time my brother lived near us and had founded an Institute of Hypnosis. He taught dentists and doctors how to use this tool for such occasions. The dentist asked him to work with this young woman, since he didn't feel proficient enough yet to tackle such a difficult case. My brother also went along to the dentist's office to reassure this teenager...all free of charge.

It worked beautifully! This was one happy mom and daughter when she received her new teeth and was pain free and attractive. She also now could use a fork and spoon, and not her fingers! Hope this helps...I love your posts...you're a nice person!

-- Elaine Seavey (Gods1sheep@aol.com), August 13, 1999.

winter,

I used to gag all the time at doctor and dentist, until one doctor explained that it was because I was mouth-breathing while he had the tongue depressor in.

Ones body's natural reaction is to vigorously defend itself against obstructions or irritants in the breathing passageway, and to quickly eject anything that feels (such as the touch of a tongue depressor's tip on back of mouth) like some small object that might be inhaled. Switching the breathing passageway from mouth to nose keeps the body from defending so automatically and vigorously against touches in the mouth.

I had developed the habit of mouth-breathing because of chronic nasal congestion due to allergies. This was aggravated by my tendency to breathe shallowly when anxious, such as when I anticipated a gagging situation.

As soon as I learned to breathe through my nose while doctor or dentist was working on my mouth, my gagging problem almost disappeared. Still happens once in a while during an oral exam, but when I then re-focus on my breathing I find that I'd resumed mouth-breathing, without noticing.

I've adopted a ritual of breathing deeply twice or thrice through my nose while concentrating on relaxation, just before opening my mouth for an oral exam or dental work. This establishes my nose-breathing rhythm, re-oxygenates me if I've been breathing too shallowly, and reduces anxiety.

Hmmm ... hadn't thought about gagging in connection with toothbrushing or flossing until rereading your posting, but I think maybe I sometimes hurry-up my brushing because I'm trying to do it while holding my breath.

-- former gagger (johndoe02@hotmail.com), August 13, 1999.

I use to work for a dentist. We had a few patients with that prob. Don't put as much toothpaste as the TV ads show, like the entire brush. All you need is like a fourth or third of the brush. Try it, might work for you. No help for the flossing.

-- J'net (pnglewis1@yahoo.com), August 13, 1999.

Thanks everyone!

I think former gagger may be onto something-- I hope so! I will try it out. I am chronically stuffed up-- can hardly get any air drawn in though my nose most of the time. Goes back to before I can remember and so I am a mouth breather by default. Anyway, I will try this and hope it works.

Will keep the other suggestions in mind, too.

Elaine-- thanks. Seems to me from what I've read on the forum that you still _are_ in the ministry... :-)

Thanks again,

-- winter wondering (winterwondering@yahoo.com), August 14, 1999.

practice with your finger,when your body wants to gag fight it,gradualy your body will get over it.eventualy you'll be able to felate a zuchhini.Sword swallowers overcome the gag reflex to the point that they can put their fist down their throght before moving on to more risky things

-- zoobie (zoobiezoob@yahoo.com), August 14, 1999.

I used to have a problem with swallowing large pills. I used the method zoobie so colorfully related, and I can attest that it did work.

Don't know about the Zuchini part though...

-- Bokonon (bok0non@my-Deja.com), August 14, 1999.

Get A Grip......{;^)`

-- Michael (mikeymac@uswest.net), August 15, 1999.

You are what you tell youself . . . no matter if it is brushing or taking pills - I have a problem with taking a lot of vitamins or pills. But I focus my mind on something else and don't have a problem. If you constantly tell yourself that you are going to gag because you've done it before, then you will.

Penda

-- Penda Zone (PendaZ@excite.com), August 16, 1999.