Gangdong-gu Dental Clinic: I Gag So Easily That I’m Too Afraid to Go to the Dentist. Tips to Reduce Gagging

Just putting a toothbrush in my mouth

makes me go “ugh...”

Dental gagging

When I go to the dentist,

I keep gagging,

and it’s really embarrassing.

So I end up putting off

going to the dentist

more and more.

There are some people who delay

dental treatment because of gagging.

Sometimes it gets so severe

that some people can’t even

brush their teeth properly.

But even if your gag reflex is strong,

you should not give up on dental treatment.

Today, through a case of a patient

who had severe gagging,

I’ll explain how to reduce gagging

and share tips for making dental treatment more comfortable.

As a dentist, just by looking at a patient’s

oral condition,

there are cases where I can tell,

“This person had trouble brushing

because of gagging.”

Dental gagging

In general,

the chewing surfaces are naturally cleaned

even while eating,

so tartar or plaque rarely builds up there.

But

when the gag reflex is strong,

there are a few 특징:

1. Tartar and plaque have built up even on the chewing surfaces
2. A thick coating on the tongue

In such cases,

it’s a sign that the toothbrush

isn’t reaching deep enough.

I want to get scaling,

but I’m worried because I gag so easily.

Dental gagging

The patient told us

that even putting a toothbrush in their mouth

caused severe gagging,

so brushing their teeth was difficult.

After the examination,

there was tartar accumulated overall,

and especially on the tongue side and the inside of the molars,

it seemed that the toothbrush

had barely been reaching the chewing surfaces.

Cavities can be treated,

but the important thing is

a brushing-friendly environment,

so that part was the concern.

Scaling is usually done

in one session,

but because the patient could have a very hard time

due to gagging,

in such cases we divide it into

two sessions.

We proceeded slowly,

waiting for the patient’s breathing,

and gave enough breaks in between.

Of course, scaling is performed

by our dental hygienists.

Only after cleaning thoroughly with scaling

and removing tartar from the chewing surfaces

can an accurate examination be performed.

Treating patients with severe gagging

is not easy for the dental clinic either.

It’s hard for the patient too,

and there are times when the patient struggles

at important moments when saliva must not enter,

so treatment has to be paused;

it’s true that both the treatment period

and the dentist have a harder time.

It’s not as if the treatment takes longer

and becomes more difficult,

and then we charge more for it.

But we wait for the patient’s breathing,

carefully record everything in the chart,

and secure enough time

so they can receive treatment as comfortably as possible.

How to reduce dental gagging

Tips for patients

1. Try focusing on diaphragmatic breathing

When you feel the gag reflex coming on,

slowly inhale through your nose

and slowly exhale through your mouth,

focusing on breathing from your abdomen.

Focusing on your breathing

can reduce the gag reflex a bit.

2. Communicate enough with the dental clinic

“I gag easily.”

If you let us know in advance like this,

the dentist can also adjust and treat you

slowly and with more room to spare.

Don’t feel embarrassed.

Gagging is a natural reflex.

3. Try to visit during less busy hours if possible

If there is more time available,

the dentist can take enough time

and consider your comfort

while providing treatment.

4. Come after enough time has passed since eating

Right after a meal, food may come back up from the stomach,

which can make gagging worse.

It is best to schedule treatment

2–3 hours after eating.

5. Even if you have to split it up, just finish it.

So,

don’t give up on dental treatment.

Tips for brushing teeth for people who gag easily at the dentist

1. Use a small toothbrush

Compared with a large toothbrush head,

using a children’s toothbrush

or a toothbrush with a small head

will reduce gagging.

2. Start with the front teeth and slowly move inward

Build up tolerance by brushing the front teeth first,

then slowly move toward the molars.

3. Don’t force tongue cleaning

There are tongue cleaners that cause less gagging,

so try using assistive tools.

4. Regular dental scaling

If brushing at home is difficult,

it is important to receive scaling at the dental clinic

every 3–5 months

and receive preventive care.

Even if you gag easily,

don’t give up on dental treatment.

What matters is starting,

not finishing quickly.

So gather your courage

and come knock on the door.

▼Check the dental clinic location▼

Gangdong-gu Dental Clinic: I Gag So Easily That I’m Too Afraid to Go to the Dentist. Tips to Reduce Gagging

Go to call for an appointment
02-481-4278

| This post was written directly by Seoul Bardi Dental Clinic for the purpose of providing medical information in compliance with Article 56, Paragraph 1 of the Medical Services Act. The information provided is for reference only, and for symptom assessment and accurate management methods, please visit a medical institution and receive guidance from medical professionals. All procedures/surgeries performed at the dental clinic may involve risks depending on the individual (inflammation, bleeding, swelling, etc.). Please make decisions after sufficient consultation with medical staff in advance. The treatment cases in this post were photographed with the consent of patients who completed treatment at our clinic, and the before-and-after photos were taken under the same conditions. |