How to survive a hygienist appointment without gagging?

[CinderRosie]

My fear of gagging is stopping me from even booking the appointment never mind attending it. I know I can’t keep avoiding it so please can anyone share their tips of not gagging in the chair? The time seems to pass so slowly, I get anxious and then… gag. I’ve tried throat numbing stuff, humming and breathing through my nose but the panic overrides it.

I'm the same as you OP. I HATE going and feel like I'm suffocating...I can feel the panic and the dentist has said they can actually hear my heart thundering away! Horrible feeling. The way I still manage is by having an incredibly patient dentist and hygienist. She will stop immediately whenever I indicate her to, talks me through the process as she is doing it, how long it will be, the progress etc. We have the TV on above the chair for distraction. Mine will sedate if necessary, but obviously that costs.

My dentist will prescribe diazapam for anxious patients, like me. I didn't need it for hygeine but did for extensive fillings. You could ask them for that? It would be the owner or lead dentist who would do it. I'm not sure about NHS as mine is private. But I only had to pay the prescription charge for the benzos. You'd need to pick it up and take tablet an hour before the session.