What is the vomiting reflex? If you know what causes it and what to do about it, your dentist can help! " 365 Dentist

Last updated April 5, 2023

Patient.

Doctor...I get "ouch" when someone touches the inside of my mouth.
I'm too scared to go to the dentist, can you help me?

dentist

Indeed, it is difficult to go to the dentist if you are prone to the vomiting reflex.
People who are prone to the vomiting reflex often have difficulty getting to the dentist, which can worsen tooth decay and gum disease.
To make it as easy as possible,I will discuss countermeasures based on the causes of the vomiting reflex!

Table of Contents

What is the vomiting reflex?
Causes of the vomiting reflex
1. Physiological causes
2. Psychological causes
How to counter the vomiting reflex
Training to reduce the vomiting reflex
If you can't go to the dentist because of the vomiting reflex, let's try to counteract it.
1. relevance

What is the vomiting reflex?

What is the vomiting reflex?A reflexive reaction to vomiting or actually vomiting when someone else's fingers or utensils are in the mouthIt is.

Even in daily life, a person may experience a "gasp" while gargling or brushing his or her teeth, which is also caused by the vomiting reflex.

Some people are more prone to the vomiting reflex than others.

If you are familiar with any of the following, you may be prone to the vomiting reflex.

Prone to oohing and aahing when brushing teeth or gargling
Difficulty with neckties, turtlenecks, or anything else that wraps around or covers the neck
I have trouble breathing when I close the top button of my Y-shirt.
Diagnosed with reflux esophagitis.

Causes of the vomiting reflex

The causes of the vomiting reflex can be divided into two categories

Physiological causes
Psychological causes

Physiological causes

The vomiting reflex is an innate human response to prevent swallowing when a foreign object touches the area near the throat.

This is,It is a "physiological vomiting reflex" that can occur in anyone.

The degree to which the physiological vomiting reflex is triggered by stimuli varies from person to person and may depend on the physical condition of the patient that day.

The most likely time for a dentist to experience the physiological vomiting reflex is when he or she molds the mouth.

The flow of molding clay into the back of the throat may cause a reflexive "ouch," even in people who are not prone to the vomiting reflex.

Psychological causes

The vomiting reflex caused by psychological causes is,It is often caused by extreme fear, anxiety, or nervousness.

I have experienced nausea from fear due to previous dental treatment.
The thought of undergoing dental treatment makes me nervous and I feel like throwing up when someone touches my mouth.
I have had a sudden vomiting reflex that caused me to vomit during dental treatment.
I have had a vomiting reflex during dental treatment, and the dentist and staff have looked at me with disapproval.

Such a vomiting reflex caused by past dental experiences is a "psychological vomiting reflex.

Basically, it is often caused by a "fear of the dentist" and, if worsened, may cause the following symptoms in addition to nausea. (Dental phobia/fear of the dentist)

When I try to go to the dentist, my body freezes up and I can't move.
Unusual sweating at the thought of getting dental work
Unable to sit in dentist's chair, etc.

How to counter the vomiting reflex

To reduce the vomiting reflex, the following measures are recommended

Tell your dentist that you are prone to the vomiting reflex.
Relax as much as possible and be aware of nasal breathing
If the vomiting reflex occurs, don't hold back.
Choose a dentist who is equipped for people with a vomiting reflex.

Tell your dentist that you are prone to the vomiting reflex.

If you have experienced a vomiting reflex from previous dental treatment,It is recommended that you inform them of this before the treatment.

The vomiting reflex tends to occur when the patient is in an upward position in an overturned therapeutic chair.

If you tell them in advance that you are prone to the vomiting reflex, they will treat you with the chair slightly raised and be careful when putting fingers or instruments in your mouth.

Relax as much as possible and be aware of nasal breathing

It can be difficult, however, when getting treatment from a dentist,Try to relax as much as possible and be aware of nasal breathing.

Strong fear or anxiety can cause the body to stiffen and the vomiting reflex to occur more easily.

It is easier to relax when you are treated by a dentist with relaxing music and a dentist you trust.

In addition, when breathing through the mouth, the throat is easily opened and water and spit from the apparatus unexpectedly flow suddenly down the throat, causing the vomiting reflex to occur.

Breathing slowly through the nose makes it easier to close the throat and prevents the vomiting reflex from occurringIt is.

Nasal breathing also eases tension and fear because the parasympathetic nervous system, which relaxes the mind and body, is more easily activated when breathing through the nose than when breathing through the mouth.

If the vomiting reflex occurs, don't hold back.

If the vomiting reflex occurs,Do not hold back and let your dentist and staff know.

During the treatment, it is difficult to speak, and if you try to speak, your throat opens up and the nausea becomes even stronger, so you raise your hand to let them know.

If the dentist knows that you have a vomiting reflex, he or she will know what is going on.

Choose a dentist who is equipped for people with a vomiting reflex.

Some dentists,There are dentists who specialize in treating people who are prone to the vomiting reflex or who have dental phobia.

They can be treated in a large crowd where the vomiting reflex is less likely to occur.
They can be treated with compact instruments.
Reduction of the vomiting reflex by anesthesia of the maxilla
Treatment under unconsciousness utilizing laughing gas, intravenous sedation anesthesia, general anesthesia, etc.

We have a lot of know-how to ensure smooth treatment even for those with vomiting reflexes.

There are only a limited number of dentists who specialize in laughing gas, intravenous sedation anesthesia, and general anesthesia, other than dentists who specialize in the vomiting reflex and dental phobia.

Training to reduce the vomiting reflex

The vomiting reflex is,More likely to occur in people who are more sensitive to sensors that detect foreign substances entering the bodyIt is.

In other words, training to become accustomed to the stimuli that trigger the vomiting reflex may help reduce it.

Here is some training that will help you avoid the vomiting reflex.

Gently stroke the tongue from front to back with a toothbrush to see where the vomiting reflex occurs.
Rub the area where the vomiting reflex was triggered when the tongue was stroked again, and hold for 10 seconds if the vomiting reflex is about to be triggered.
When the vomiting reflex is less likely to occur, expand the area where the tongue is scraped with the toothbrush.
Repeat steps 1-3 a little each day to train the patient to become accustomed to the stimuli that trigger the vomiting reflex.