To be embarrassed about gagging at the dentist?

[AutumnalNights]

Went to the dentist today and he did a quick clean of my teeth. He knows I find it painful. Anyway I struggled through it but unfortunately near the end gagged hard. The dental nurse looked horrified and him a bit irritated.
Feel really embarrassed. Has anyone else had this and how to stop doing it ? It has happened before but never this bad.

I think it's time for a new dentist if the dentist was irritated and the nurse horrified, it's literally their job and to be expected

On a practical note, not an issue I have but my partner does and he has to go in the afternoon as worse in the morning

I always gag when I have a dental X-ray, and the last time I had my teeth cleaned the sucky thing went too far to the back of my throat so I gagged and panicked and swatted the dentist and assistant. I'm sure they see it all the time!

I say this kindly...I think you're projecting how you felt onto the reactions of the dentist/assistant. They've seen much worse than gagging. It's par for the course in their jobs!

If they were annoyed...well it says more about them than you doesn't it? Gagging when someone is poking about in your mouth is well within the range of normal behaviour.

Oh and super weird but a bit of salt in the tongue works a treat

You reacted because you couldn't control it.

They were unprofessional so in the wrong.

Time for a new dentist

It happens to me too, although I’d say the dentist was a bit concerned that I was alright rather than annoyed or irritated. They don’t want you to be sick or choke or anything. Now I always say before they start cleaning at the back so they are warned that I’m sensitive and might gag. I should think it’s fairly common so I honestly wouldn’t worry. Maybe mention it first next time?

This happens to me all the time and is a major reason I don’t go to the dentist as often as I should. However, I agree with Mooncloud; it’s part of their job, and to be honest, they must see it all the time. It’s not like you’re choosing to do it. It’s called REFLEX for a reason (i.e. it’s an involuntary, automatic reaction).

I'm sure you're not the only one this has happened to. The dentist should not have looked irritated. It's their job to look after you.

I hate having the dentist clean my teeth too. I find it so uncomfortable.

If it makes you feel better, once after the teeth cleaning, I was using the mouth wash to rinse my mouth. I was a bit shaky and when I spat out the mouthwash I completely missed the little sink and accidentally spat it all on the floor instead. That really was embarrassing.

I always gag. Didn’t realise I should be embarrassed.

The hygienist recommended I do this as my last appointment (morning) was not good.

Don't worry OP you can't help it b

I gag every time! It's normal and natural. I think you're over thinking it :-)

I have to wear a night guard in bed, and every time I need a new one and get impressions done I gag. The dentist keeps up a steady chatter to distract me but she has reassured me numerous times it is normal. Someone I know was actually properly sick while getting fitted for whitening trays, her gag reflex was so strong!

Don't feel bad. I accidentally licked my dentists finger swallowing when the suction was not in the right place.

If it makes you feel better, once after the teeth cleaning, I was using the mouth wash to rinse my mouth. I was a bit shaky and when I spat out the mouthwash I completely missed the little sink and got it all on the floor. That really was embarrassing.

I did this too...mortifying & it was in covid times & the hygienist really did look horrified! 😬

I've done that too! Mortifying! The dentist and nurse totally ignored it, though, to give them credit.

Gagging is a pretty common response so I wouldn't worry overly about it.

Haven’t tried it, but I read somewhere that you can use a couple of squirts of throat numbing spray, like you use for a sore throat, and it will calm down the gag reflex.

OP why do you think they were horrified and irritated? Do you think you could perhaps have been mistaken?

She jumped back and had her mouth open in shock.
He just sort of frowned and so looked annoyed.

I usually gag when I have an x-ray at the dentist. It's annoying, but I don't think much of it - can't imagine gagging is that unusual there.

I do it, it’s called gag reflex, more common than you think. My dentist tells me to wiggle my toes & weirdly it does work if you concentrate on doing it.

DN here!
Happens all the time, very common!
Some people have a VERY sensitive reflux - always written on notes so we can make appointments as comfortable as possible!
I have cleaned up vomit on more than one occasion!
It can make our job incredibly difficult!
Missing the spittoon - also common, only annoys me if no apologies made!!

Last time they tried to shove the x-Ray thing in my mouth I gagged so badly I didn’t have it done, it was absolutely awful!

Why do they make the plates so big? Theres no need!

Omg i gag all the time at the dentist, I mean, every time- fairly constantly through my appointments. It is not that weird op.

I gagged, wanted to stop and leave and my dentist got irritated at me. The assistant was flooding me with water and it felt like i was choking, i felt frightened. But i return to him because it's not easy to find a good dentist and the nicest ones in bedside manners aren't necessarily the most competent as i have learnt the hard way.