We link primary sources - including studies, scientific references, and statistics - within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. Medical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. For instance, they can try meditative behaviors, such as controlled breathing and mindful thinking. Relaxation techniquesĪ person may consider using relaxation techniques to reduce their risk of gagging.
Distraction techniquesĪ 2017 study looking at the gag reflex in children suggests that distracting them with a counting game may reduce their gag reflex response.
A 2016 study looking at people getting molds of their teeth notes that applying local anesthetic to the impression material can reduce a person’s gag reflex. Local anestheticĪ sensitive gag reflex at the dentist can make the experience difficult for both the person and the dentist. They can then brush that area for 15–30 seconds.Ī person should attempt to do this process twice a day until they no longer feel the urge to gag from brushing in that area.Īt this point, they can move their toothbrush back slightly further and repeat the process. One technique that a person can try is taking their toothbrush and slowly moving it toward the back of their tongue until they feel close to gagging. ToothbrushĪ person may desensitize their gag reflex by accustoming the trigger point in their mouth to touch. An older study suggests that applying pressure to the palm may change a person’s trigger point.Īnecdotal evidence also suggests that if a person closes their left hand over their left thumb and applies gentle pressure, it may stop them from gagging. AcupressureĪcupressure involves putting pressure on certain parts of the body to encourage it to self-heal and self-regulate. Some of these techniques include: AcupunctureĪ 2015 study suggests that acupuncture may help alleviate a sensitive gag reflex in a short time. Instead of trying to stop their body’s natural response, a person with a sensitive gag reflex may consider using techniques to desensitize or pause it when necessary.
These may include anxiety about the procedure, the dentist touching physical trigger points, the taste of the dentist’s gloves, and the sound of dental tools. This combination of psychogenic and somatogenic stimuli can explain why some people may gag only under certain circumstances.įor example, a person may not gag when engaging in their own oral hygiene but might gag when a dentist performs it due to multiple triggers being present at the dentist’s office. A person may, therefore, also gag due to certain sights, sounds, and smells. Physical and mental stimuli can be separate events or happen at the same time. Somatogenic and psychogenic stimuli combined Therefore, a person may gag when experiencing an unpleasant thought. Generally, a psychogenic stimulus is a response to disgust. PsychogenicĪ psychogenic stimulus is a mental trigger that causes a person to gag. Some people may gag from a very gentle touch on a trigger point, while others may be able to tolerate a more intense sensation before gagging. In this instance, the gag reflex is an attempt to prevent a person from choking or swallowing something potentially dangerous.Īlthough trigger points in the mouth may vary, a gag reflex will typically occur when something stimulates the base of the tongue, the uvula, or the tonsil area. The activation of a trigger point causes nerve signals to pass to the brain, which then signals the pharynx to contract. In relation to oral trigger points, this may be a large piece of food or a foreign object. SomatogenicĪ somatogenic stimulus is one that physically makes direct contact with a trigger point. Two types of stimuli can trigger a gag reflex: somatogenic and psychogenic.
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