to ask how to not throw up at the dentist tomorrow - terrified :(

[CinderRosie]

Posting here for traffic... I loathe the dentist. Always have done. I tend to gag as a by-product of the anxious nausea I get from the whole thing. I don't care about pain or needles, I don't really know why I'm so anxious. I had a check up in January but have had a sensitive/weird sensation on a part of gum for the last week and managed to get an appointment tomorrow and I want to gag just at the thought of it being prodded and having an X-ray. Especially as it'll probably be a random dentist at the surgery (NHS). God knows how I'll cope having the treatment that I'm going to need.

Is anyone else like this or just me?
What can I do? I feel so silly to be like this and wish I was just normal. I've tried throat numbing spray, rescue remedy, breathing through my nose deeply and calmly, but nothing seems to work.

Distraction techniques? Music/podcast?

Try the old squeeze your thumb and breath through your nose trick or perhaps take some sort of stress object, something to fiddle with. Sometimes being kept upright can help as well.

The best thing you can do is tell the dentist, they are used to it. You are not the only patient who feels like this (I doubt you will be the only patient that afternoon), and a strong reflex is really common.

Hugs. I try to tell myself it's like a spa treatment for my teeth. People have pedicures and manicures for fun, so I tell myself this is a toothicure! I also remind myself that even if it is grim, it will come to an end, and after it I just need to be kind to myself and wait it out while the stress subsides. Sometimes I find bananas can settle the stomach if you have nervous nausea.

https://www.dentalfearcentral.org/fears/gagging/

Thank you I will give that link a read. Just want tomorrow over with now so I know what I’m dealing with!

Let the dentist know you have a strong gag reflex. I had quite a bit of work done a few years back and after a couple of appointments he was numbing my whole mouth before he came anywhere near me as I kept gagging so much. I even managed a root canal with a big piece of rubber around the offending tooth.

I'm generally OK at the dentist's, but I do have a very strong gag reflex when they try to do an X-ray. Then I requested if they had a smaller X-ray film thingy to bite on, and they came up with an official child-sized one. I was fine with that (I do have a very small head!). Might help at least for the X-ray part.

Concentrate on lifting your feet up off the seat. It's good for your stomach muscles too 😂. But that's what my dentist recommended when I was having trays done years ago - the moulding putty sits really near the back of your throat so it's really easy to gag; holding my feet up helped a lot. And obviously, tell them :)

Thanks you lot - absolutely bricking it - roll on 3pm!

Does your dentist offer sedation? Best thing ever!

@Valeriekat no my NHS dentist doesn’t but I often fantasise about changing to a private practice that can, even if it costs me a fortune!

I got on ok today and didn’t gag!

Glad it went well today @CinderRosie

Well done! No NHS dentistry where I am so yes it is expensive but after decades of being brave I finally (at 63) said yes to the sedation. I fell in love with my dentist a little bit that day I think.
Glad it is over for you.