Am I the only one who gags when brushing teeth?

[laurajayneinkent]

Brushing my teeth makes me gag/retch and almost throw up. It didn't use to; I think it's because my wisdom teeth are now 'fully grown'. Either that or something to do with hormones: I only started noticing this in the last approx 3 years (my daughters are 3 & 6). Anyone else have this? Any advice? It's making me miserable.

Does here too. No solutions here I’m afraid. Less minty toothpaste has helped but not solved .

Me. I do big, loud, burpy boaking noises too. End up with a runny nose and red, watery eyes. No advice, just sympathy.

Me too! Gag and retch every single morning.

I have this my dentist marked my notes with strong gag reflex. I find d using a small brush and another too minty toothpaste (I like arm &hammer ) for this . Colgate is not too bad but Maclean's has me retching

A not too minty

Same here, it started when I was pregnant but has never got better. DP likes to think he's funny and joke I'm pregnant again when he hears me retching. Occasionally I'm actually sick with it too

I used to have this problem and found out that it was because I was brushing my teeth with a wide open mouth.

Try having your mouth open just enough to get the brush around your teeth.

Me too. Full on gagging with the streaming eyes and horrible noises. My H just ignores me now. If I stay somewhere new I have to be very discreet

When I was pg, I would actually hurl.

I only had this when I was pregnant.

Me too. Breathe through your nose and wiggle your toes throughout. Sounds weird but both really help.

I began gagging when my morning sickness kicked in with my youngest. She is 27 this year, I still gag. I never used to, even after my wisdom teeth came in. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

How funny... I just came on this thread to say only when I was pregnant too!
OP... what are the chances ☺

Strangely, I have only an average gag response in other situations.

Like eating.

I started this when pregnant and the smell of water made me projectile vomit. I ended up only dry brushing or flossing when really bad.

Nearly 4 years later I still gag when brushing teeth.

Oh, I've been known to piss a wee bit too when I'm gagging. I now shower after brushing my teeth.

Only when I was suffering from HG and a few months after the pregnancy. It was horrible at the time.

Yes, a clean toothbrush and none as much as possible frothy toothpaste helps. Toothbrushes after 2 weeks have as much bacteria on as a toilet seat apparently.

A child’s toothbrush for right at the back helps as well.

I didn't actually have morning sickness at all but have also had a very healthy gag reflex. DD sadly seems to have inherited this.

I think the pregnancy thing is because it's slightly psychological so if you think your your going to gag you do, so people can develop a gag reflex and suppress it. I sometimes gag, when brush it at the back, it's quite normal. I find a small headed tooth brush and closing my mouth up helps, plus distraction. If I think I'm going to gag I will but if I'm not thinking about it I wont

Me too! But it really kicks in when I brush my tongue. It never used to have this effect on me. Sometimes I cough up loads of phlegm (clear; nothing untoward looking about it). I thought it might have something to do with acid reflux.

Yup, I do! Mine's caused by too much toothpaste foam (although only in the morning, weirdly). I've found only using a little more than a smear of toothpaste has solved the issue. 'Pea-sized' amounts are too much. Before reducing the usage, brushing my teeth would cause me to throw up 2-3 times a week.

Mine is also only in the morning. Night time brushing is fine. How bizarre.

Morning only for me too! How weird.

Yes!!! I’ve always been like this but worse since had th DC. Mornings much worse than evenings too! I have to do lots of deep breaths to stop myself actually puking and can’t brush my teeth after a cup of tea or its game over!

I do have a very sensitive gag reflex, I can be sick just by thinking about it the rest of the time.

Me too, started when pregnant.
I blame this for my poor gum health which started when I couldn't brush as effectively as I wanted for the gagging.

Try aaaahhhhhing a tune loudly whilst brushing. You will sound like a fruitcake but it diminishes the reflex.

Similarly, humming a tune helps with car sickness.