Finding it impossible to brush teeth without retching, any tips?

[LuckyOwl28]

It started off with just back teeth, now it's literally as soon as the brush enters my mouth. Stood over the sink dry retching for 5 mins this morning. Have tried both manual and electric brushes.

Don't want to avoid brushing teeth, help?

I ended up just using mouthwash. I kept trying and randomly by about 7 months pregnant it was ok again to brush them.

I talked to my dentist about the same problem and he said you can use Corsodyl mouthwash instead of brushing your teeth but don't do it for more than a month at a time without brushing. You can get your dentist to prescribe it so you can get it for free too.

Oh that's a good tip - I'm having a mare with this at the moment too.

I had this when I was pregnant and I couldn't even use mouthwash. DH suggested a toddler brush and I found I could very occasionally use it, but only a few times the whole pregnancy :-(

It got better when ds was born but then when he was about a year old it came back for a few months!!

I used to brush mine in the shower, don't know why but for me it really helped - maybe because you can keep your neck/throat straight, I don't know

At lush they have these weird tasting toothpaste alternatives. If it's just the taste of the toothpaste maybe one of those might work?

I couldn't at all the first time pregnant, it was horrible. I've been using DS's toddler toothpaste this time round, orange or strawberry flavour, and that helps.

Thanks for all the tips, will try all of them! Have already tried in the shower and was still the same. I didn't expect so many people to have experienced the same thing, I wonder why it is?

I kept refreshing my brush in water as I went along. I found it was the actual toothpaste that was worst for me. Lots of spitting and thinning down of the foam in my mouth helped. Back teeth always made me gag though no matter what.

It got better pretty much straight after the birth each time, but that's not much consolation to you right now!

Dentures an option?

This happens to me. 16 weeks. I just do it as quickly as I can and hope for the best, and if I'm sick I'm sick. I can empathise though, it's hideous.

I had this when I was expecting DS. I switched to Sendidybe and found that having a less minty toothpaste really helped. Just used mouthwash a lot though!

I switched to a gel toothpaste which helped a lot.

It's the brush I can't handle. Or anyone brushing. Just have to go gently. Been two years now and I'm pg again but it hasn't got worse

I have this. Spoke to dentist who experienced the same issue when she was expecting. She reccommended trying non-electric to me, may not apply to you but it def. helped me.

Small amount of paste. For inside of teeth, divide into quarters... one section then rinse entirely... next section. Also speed! For outside of teeth... just clamp them really tight.

I had the same issue. Despite having morning sickness the only times I actually puked (so far) this pregnancy were whilst brushing my teeth.

I just got on with it tbh. It made me retch and sometimes it made me puke but I brushed nonetheless, and it was unpleasant. Sometimes just thinking about brushing my teeth made me retch Then again, in the first trimester, seeing bird poo or rubbish in the street made me retch - never heard of anyone else set off by that!

I also had (still have) bleeding gums but flossing was definitely out during that time.

The tooth-brushing retching stopped for me some time between 6 and 7 months. Every now and again it comes back for one morning or evening but it is pretty much gone now (at 33 weeks).

For me the time of day influenced it.

I was ok in the morning, bareable just after tea and an absolute no go come bedtime.

So i would brush first thing in the morning and straight after tea and then just rinse at bedtime.

I'm finding it easier in the evenings so cleaning them for twice as long!
My husband is using my retching sounds as a wake up alarm at the moment! lol