i gag when i brush my teeth- is this acid reflux?

[beesknees]

sometimes, when i brush my teeth in the morning, i start gagging/coughing. i don't know why this is. it feels like i have to throw up, but i don't- it's just gagging & coughing, and really annoying 'cuz it squeezes tears out of my eyes.

 

i don't even reach the toothbrush far back enough to make it happen- it just happens. i wonder if my toothpaste is too foamy, and it's a reaction to it going back there, but i'm not sure. it's only started happening the past few years, and is totally random.

 

does this happen to anyone else?

 

is this acid reflux? i ask b/c i feel a pang in my stomach after it happens, and i saw something about AR being a result of acid in the tummy reacting. after it happens, i'm fine.

[moimeme]

Do you cough if you smell very strong smells? Are you sticking out your tongue too far?

[beesknees]

no, and i don't stick my tongue out when i brush my teeth really.

[moimeme]

Well it could still be the strength of the peppermint or something. Next time you're at your doc's, ask. It shouldn't be acid reflux, though, since if you had that, you'd have symptoms other times too, not just when you brush your teeth.

[scarlyjones]

Originally posted by beesknees

sometimes, when i brush my teeth in the morning, i start gagging/coughing. i don't know why this is. it feels like i have to throw up, but i don't- it's just gagging & coughing, and really annoying 'cuz it squeezes tears out of my eyes.

 

i don't even reach the toothbrush far back enough to make it happen- it just happens. i wonder if my toothpaste is too foamy, and it's a reaction to it going back there, but i'm not sure. it's only started happening the past few years, and is totally random.

 

does this happen to anyone else?

 

is this acid reflux? i ask b/c i feel a pang in my stomach after it happens, and i saw something about AR being a result of acid in the tummy reacting. after it happens, i'm fine.

 

 

Dont you mean Gag Reflex? Acid Reflux is a disease. Its like chronic heartburn. Brushing you teeth has nothing to do with acid

[westernxer]

It's happened to me before, too. Not lately, though.

 

No, it's not acid reflux, just morning sickness.

[beesknees]

Originally posted by westernxer

No, it's not acid reflux, just morning sickness.

 

morning sickness? LOL! did you find it happened more at certain times, like it tends to happen to me more often when i'm feeling sad/depressed. i wonder if it's a reaction to my mental/emotional state.

 

the mint isn't that strong- it's just aquafresh. i wonder if it's an allergic reaction to my toofpaste, even though i've used it my whole life, but things are changing in my late 20's, so who knows.

 

i just hate the gagging! i try to suppress it, but it takes over me. yuck!

[MWC_LifeBeginsAt40]

This happened to me when I was pregnant (gagging, not morning sickness), and also other women I know. It also doesn't go away afterwards. I did read a helpful tip to exhale when you start gagging during brushing.

[westernxer]

I think it happens to me when I brush really early in the morning... body hasn't woken up yet.

[beesknees]

Originally posted by MWC_LifeBeginsAt40

This happened to me when I was pregnant (gagging, not morning sickness), and also other women I know. It also doesn't go away afterwards. I did read a helpful tip to exhale when you start gagging during brushing.

 

thanks. i will try this next time it happens. i'm not pregnant tho, so i wonder what else causes it. maybe like westernxer, my body just hasn't woken up yet.

[Fun2BMe]

i gag often when i brush my teeth too. unlike you, I gag and cough until i throw up and start crying, this will happen about once every other week for the past couple of years. i make an effort not to let the toothpaste touch my tongue too much or else cough-cough gag-gag

[Craig]

Er, try brushing your teeth without any toothpaste to see if it is the toothpaste causing you to gag.

[moimeme]

I think you guys should really talk to your doctors or dentists about this. This doesn't sound too healthy.

[Naive]

It only happens to me when I stick the toothbrush to far up my mouth.

[wyzeup]

It's simple - when you're brushing the back of your tongue, your toothbrush is activating your Gag Reflex, nothing more, nothing less. It's not acid reflux (that's when stomach acid backs up your esophagus), it's not something abnormal, it's not something that requires a trip to the doctor.

[jellybean]

Originally posted by wyzeup

It's simple - when you're brushing the back of your tongue, your toothbrush is activating your Gag Reflex, nothing more, nothing less. It's not acid reflux (that's when stomach acid backs up your esophagus), it's not something abnormal, it's not something that requires a trip to the doctor.

 

Well, I don't recall her saying she was brushing her TONGUE......but anyways, yeah I know all about severe gag reflex.

 

Had it as long as I can remember...a doc can't look down my throat, a dentist can't work on my back teeth without me gagging, then coughing, with tears rolling down my cheeks.

 

And attempting to brush my tongue? fuggetaboutit.....impossible.

 

Then of course there's the sexual aspect of it all...I mean I'd love to pleasure him - if only...errr, let's not even go there, okay?

 

I do remember a funny thing a dental hygienist once said to me "Contrary to what everyone says, you do not have a big mouth".

[moimeme]

when you're brushing the back of your tongue, your toothbrush is activating your Gag Reflex

 

OP said

i don't even reach the toothbrush far back enough to make it happen