Whether it is triggered when you are brushing the back molars or when the dentist examines the oral cavity for cavities, the pharyngeal reflex can turn the moment of dental hygiene into an unpleasant situation. You can find tons of tips on the internet for suppressing the pharyngeal reflex, but there are some solutions that prove better than others. You can put into practice an immediate remedy such as numbing the palate or stimulating the taste buds to keep retching under control. Over time, you can also use your toothbrush to desensitize your gag reflex or even put in place techniques to refocus your attention and get over the problem quickly.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Immediate Remedies
Step 1. Numb the soft palate
When an object touches this part of the mouth it can induce the pharyngeal reflex; To desensitize this area, you can use an over-the-counter spray that numbs the throat. Alternatively, you can apply a topical pain reliever containing benzocaine using a cotton swab; the effects should last about an hour and the palate should become less responsive.
- These products rarely cause side effects; however, you must stop using it if you experience vomiting, nausea, dizziness, sleepiness and / or stomach cramps.
- Use benzocaine products in moderation; the cotton swab could induce the pharyngeal reflex or swallowing. Other side effects may include fatigue, weakness, skin irritation around the ears, bluish skin around the lips and fingertips, as well as shortness of breath.
- If you are allergic to this substance, you must completely avoid products that contain it; ask your doctor or pharmacist if it may interact with any other over-the-counter medicines, vitamin supplements or herbal remedies you are already taking.
Step 2. Squeeze your thumb
Bring your left thumb towards the palm of the same hand and clench your fist; crushes hard without causing too much pain. This "trick" puts pressure on the point on the palm that controls the pharyngeal reflex.
Step 3. Put a pinch of salt on your tongue
Wet the tip of a finger, dip it in salt and bring it to the tongue. This substance activates the taste buds on the front side of the tongue and triggers a chain reaction that momentarily suppresses the gag reflex.
Another way to achieve the same effect is to put a teaspoon of salt in a glass of water and rinse the mouth; don't forget to spit it out though
Method 2 of 3: Desensitize the Pharyngeal Reflex
Step 1. Find the spot that triggers the retching
You can locate it by using a toothbrush to scrape your tongue; focus on the area that stimulates the pharyngeal reflex that is closest to the tip.
- You may be more sensitive to retching early in the day; therefore try to schedule the desensitization exercises in the late afternoon or in the evening.
- Don't put your fingers down your throat or you will throw up.
Step 2. Brush the area of the tongue that stimulates the reflex
Obviously, the body reacts with an unpleasant retching but that does not last long; spend 10 seconds treating the area (and enduring the effects of the reflex) and then stop exercising.
Repeat the process for a few evenings, always stimulating the same point; the body's reaction should gradually subside each time
Step 3. Increase the stimulated surface
When you can touch the first area with the toothbrush without trying to gag, you can try to push the tool a little deeper; act on a portion of the tongue that is 5-10 mm closer to the throat and repeat the same exercise.
Step 4. Keep moving the toothbrush closer and closer to your throat
Do this every time you have managed to desensitize the anterior area; proceed in this way until you reach the deepest and most visible point of the tongue. Eventually the toothbrush will make contact with the soft palate if it hasn't already.
Step 5. Desensitize your throat every day
Be constant, because the process takes about a month; later you should be able to undergo a throat swab without retching. Exercises may need to be repeated from time to time, or the sensitivity may return.
Regularly brushing the tongue is a good way to be less susceptible to the pharyngeal reflex; not only do you keep the body's reaction in check, but you have fresher breath
Method 3 of 3: Turn Attention Elsewhere
Step 1. Practice some form of meditation
Ask the dentist if you can wear earphones to distract attention from the noise of the equipment he uses during the visit. This way you can focus on calming thoughts and forget that the doctor is working near the throat; if you are worried about falling asleep, inform the dentist so that he can apply a mouthguard that keeps the jaw open.
Step 2. Mumble something
In this way you continue to breathe, a fundamental detail to relax; Also, it's hard to gag while humming with your mouth shut. Try this technique during your next dental visit, while you are having an x-ray or a dental impression is taken.
Step 3. Lift one leg slightly
If you perform this movement while lying in the dentist's chair, the concentration shifts to the lower limb; switch legs when you feel muscle fatigue. This trick takes your mind off what's going on in the mouth and near the soft palate.
Attention! This solution is not very effective if you rest your raised leg on the other
Step 4. Listen to some music
Ask your dentist if you can use an MP3 player during the cleaning or filling procedure. Prepare a playlist with tracks that make your mind wander or an interesting podcast that requires your full attention; either way you are too busy to realize the dentist's job.
Advice
- Practice eating foods that stimulate retching; however, if the pharyngeal reflex persists, avoid that food.
- Do not eat immediately after engaging in an activity that tends to trigger retching to minimize the risk of vomiting.
Warnings
- When trying to desensitize the pharyngeal reflex with the toothbrush, don't start too deep; it is in fact possible to reduce the sensitivity of a posterior point of the tongue, while keeping the anterior one active, but this is certainly not the result you want to obtain.
- Remember that this reflex is a defense mechanism of the body to protect you from choking; do not try to irreversibly desensitize the soft palate.
- Excessive sensitivity could be a symptom of a serious illness, such as gastroesophageal reflux affecting the stomach and its acidity levels; if you suffer from this disorder and / or heartburn / acidity, contact your doctor.
