Why do you Gag during a Dental Check-up? 

When your body needs to shield itself from swallowing something foreign, it triggers a gag reflex in the back of your throat. This is a natural reaction, but if it is too sensitive, it can be troublesome. When visiting the dentist or doctor for a regular check-up or operation, or even attempting to swallow a pill, you can encounter a sensitive gag reflex. You may use a variety of techniques to keep the gag reflex from affecting your overall health.

What exactly do we mean by Gag Reflex? 

Swallowing is the polar opposite of gagging. When you gag, two separate sections of your mouth work together to block access to your throat: Your larynx moves up, and your pharynx contracts. This is a protective system designed to keep something from being swallowed and eaten. A neuromuscular movement is a mechanism that is regulated by your muscles and nerves. 

Risk Factors: 

Gagging is common in children under the age of four. They gag more often as their oral functions mature, and they usually outgrow it by their fourth birthday. Instead of breathing and suctioning, they begin to breathe through their nose and swallow. 

Adults who are prone to gagging can find it difficult to swallow. Dysphagia is the medical term for this disease. You may also be subjected to some stimuli that cause the reflex from time to time. 

Various forms of gagging  

You can vomit for two reasons: 

a somatogenic stimulus is a physical stimulus that causes the body to respond in a certain way. 
Psychogenic is a term for a psychiatric stimulus. 
There isn’t always a distinction between the two forms of gagging. Gagging can be triggered by physical contact, but it can also be triggered by the sight, sound, smell, or thought of an object or circumstance. There are five areas near the back of your mouth that can cause gagging if they are stimulated. This includes the following:

uvula 
fauces  
back of your pharyngeal wall  
the base of the tongue 
palate 
Touch or other senses activate either of these spots in your mouth, and the sensation travels from your nerves to your medulla oblongata in your brain stem. This causes gagging by signalling the muscles in the back of your mouth to contract or push up.The trigeminal, glossopharyngeal, and vagus nerves are the nerves that give this signal. Gagging can often cause your cerebral cortex to activate. This could cause you to gag just thinking about something that triggers this reflex. 

Since gagging may be caused by a variety of causes, you can only gag in some situations. You could gag at the dentist’s office during a regular cleaning if one or more of your senses are triggered.Since not all dental office causes are present at home, you can perform the same oral cleaning routines without incident. 

Similar symptoms 

The medulla oblongata is located near other centers that cause you to vomit, produce saliva, or send heart signals. This means that when you gag, you can experience some additional symptoms, such as: 

making a lot of saliva 
crying 
shaking 
fainting  
panic attack. 
Why are some people more susceptible than others? 

Gagging is a natural reaction that you can or may not have as an adult. You may experience gagging in some cases, such as visiting the dentist or attempting to swallow something unnatural, such as a pill.Nearly half of people who go to the dentist claim they’ve vomited at least once during their stay. And 7.5 percent of people say they gag every time they go to the dentist. This may be as a result of physical contact or other sensory stimuli during the visit. 

You could gag during a dental appointment if: 

Your nose is clogged. 
You have a stomach condition, smoke heavily, have ill-fitting dentures, and your soft palate is formed differently. 
Swallowing pills can be painful, and one out of every three people experience gagging, choking, or vomiting while attempting to do so. 
Is it possible to be without it? 

Even though gagging is a natural neuromuscular movement, it’s possible that you’ve never had a gag reflex. Physical touch or other senses can be less sensitive in the trigger areas of your mouth. You’ll likely vomit in an emergency but have never been in a situation that causes you to gag. 

Is it possible to suppress a gag reflex? 

If your sensitive gag reflex is interfering with your daily life or your health, you may want to take steps to regulate it. You may have to try a few different approaches to figure out what works best for you to control your gag reflex. If this happens to you at the dentist or in another medical environment, speak with your dentist or doctor about treatment options. According to one recent report, A modern gag reflex test was conducted by Trusted Source to assess the strength of a person’s gag reflex. A universal gag reflex test may aid healthcare providers in treating your sensitivity. 

You should try one of the following techniques to avoid gagging: 

Psychological methods 

It’s possible that therapeutic therapies or other measures to change your actions or mental state are needed to resolve your sensitive gag reflex. You may want to take a look at: 

techniques for relaxation 
divertissement 
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a form of therapy 
desensitization to hypnosis 
Acupuncture or acupressure are two different types of acupuncture 

You may want to experiment with a different form of relieving your gag reflex. In this case, acupuncture can be beneficial. By inserting needles into specific points on the body, this procedure is intended to help your body rebalance and find equilibrium. Acupressure is a procedure and theory that is similar to acupuncture but does not use needles. 

Oral and topical drugs are available 

Your gag reflex can be relieved by certain topical and oral medications. Local anesthetics applied to sensitive areas to induce gagging, and other drugs that regulate the central nervous system and help with nausea and vomiting are examples. Antihistamines or sedatives, among other oral drugs, can be prescribed by your doctor. 

Anesthesia or nitrous oxide 

During a dental or medical operation that causes gagging, you may need nitrous oxide, local or general anesthesia to control your gag reflex. Prosthetics or procedures that have been modified. If you have a sensitive gag reflex, your dentist or doctor might be able to alter the way they perform a process or make a prosthetic. For instance, you might be able to 

Special sucking techniques 

A gag reflex can be triggered by swallowing pills. To avoid this reaction, you can use specific techniques. Drinking from a small-necked plastic water bottle or eating a drug with water when your chin is pointing downward will help wash down a pill. 

FINAL NOTE:  

Gagging is a natural reaction of the body and is nothing to be concerned about. If your gagging is interfering with your well-being or medical needs, you may need to seek treatment. There are various methods for controlling your gag reflex, and experimenting with them can help you overcome a sensitive gag reflex.