# Every Morning I gag........ **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 15, 2000, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/every-morning-i-gag/29466 "2000-08-15T17:35:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JimmyNipples](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/eb9ed0/32.png) [@JimmyNipples](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JimmyNipples)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2000, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/every-morning-i-gag/29466/1 "2000-08-15T17:35:02Z")
…When I brush my teeth. Does this happen to other dopers? As soon as I move from my front teeth to **anywhere** else in my mouth, I gag like there’s no tomorrow. When I brush my tongue, I’m heaving like a Salty Tar. Am I alone? ---
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2000, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/every-morning-i-gag/29466/2 "2000-08-15T20:34:42Z")
Maybe you’re pregnant. I had to give up using my Sonicare during the first trimester because I gagged to much. It’s mainly a conditioned reflex, which you can train yourself out of if you’re patient. Just try brushing the sensitive areas very slowly and gradually increase the contact. ---
**Author:** ![boli](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e99b99/32.png) [@boli](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boli)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2000, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/every-morning-i-gag/29466/3 "2000-08-15T20:43:56Z")
No, you’re not alone. I gag almost every time I brush. I finally got smart and starting brushing my teeth in the shower every morning. Now on the days that I actually throw up (maybe a few times a month), the cleanup is much easier. I have found it really helps to lean up against the cold tile and breathe deeply. This also happens to my brother, if that makes you feel any better! ---
**Author:** ![robinh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b77776/32.png) [@robinh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robinh)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2000, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/every-morning-i-gag/29466/4 "2000-08-15T23:29:45Z")
I don’t know how common it is, but you certainly aren’t alone. I have a friend whose son has an extremely strong gag reflex. He has always been very picky about certain food textures (he was probably 5 or 6 before he could eat mashed potatoes.) He was recently fitted for a dental appliance, and during the fitting process, having to hold the mold in his closed mouth while it set, he vomited on the dentist. They took him back a few days later on an empty stomach. What made it even funnier is that when he started to gag, the dentist reassured them, “don’t worry, no one has ever thrown up on me.” ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2000, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/every-morning-i-gag/29466/5 "2000-08-16T00:45:48Z")
I have to ask: What exactly are you brushing your teeth _with_? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2000, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/every-morning-i-gag/29466/6 "2000-08-16T01:17:49Z")
I thought it was just me . I’m not a freak (well at least not because of that reason) . ---
**Author:** ![LocalLoop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dbc845/32.png) [@LocalLoop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LocalLoop)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2000, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/every-morning-i-gag/29466/7 "2000-08-16T03:57:33Z")
Same problem here. It gets worse, though. I can’t even bite down on anything without gagging. You know, when your hands are full of something, and you chomp on a small paper bag or your keychain fob or something to carry it - makes me gag. I noticed it happening after I spent an entire winter battling bronchitis - I figured something got altered in my throat/gag reflex area due to the duress. ---
**Author:** ![Kilgore\_Trout\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6de8d8/32.png) [@Kilgore\_Trout\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kilgore_Trout_1)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2000, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/every-morning-i-gag/29466/8 "2000-08-16T03:57:44Z")
i am the same. when i get the gag feeling, i make a really angry face, using my eyebrows especially. it seems to help. ---
**Author:** ![lee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lee/32/7455_2.png) [@lee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lee)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2000, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/every-morning-i-gag/29466/9 "2000-08-16T06:10:11Z")
Same here!! I just got an electric actibrush and that helps a lot. I learned long ago that i had to brush before breakfast or else taste it a second time. ---
**Author:** ![Narile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@Narile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Narile)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2000, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/every-morning-i-gag/29466/10 "2000-08-16T06:22:48Z")
I used to gag while brushing as well. I later discovered it had to do with posture and visuals. If I am brushing while looking down into the sink with the water running, I will invariably gag, and once I am in gag mode, I can’t brush my teeth for some time without gagging. But if I don’t look down while brushing, I have no problems. Is wierd I know, but it is what works for me. ---
**Author:** ![iampunha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@iampunha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iampunha)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2000, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/every-morning-i-gag/29466/11 "2000-08-16T06:24:09Z")
I close the back of my mouth when I brush my teeth. It helps a LOT. ---
**Author:** ![Michi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c37758/32.png) [@Michi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michi)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2000, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/every-morning-i-gag/29466/12 "2000-08-16T12:09:09Z")
No gagging here…I wonder what that says about me? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![JimmyNipples](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/eb9ed0/32.png) [@JimmyNipples](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JimmyNipples)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2000, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/every-morning-i-gag/29466/13 "2000-08-16T12:36:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by slythe \* > \*\*I have to ask: What exactly are you brushing your teeth _with_? 🙂 \*\* um…a wooden spoon sheeesh…what else? ---
**Author:** ![JimmyNipples](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/eb9ed0/32.png) [@JimmyNipples](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JimmyNipples)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2000, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/every-morning-i-gag/29466/14 "2000-08-16T12:38:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Michi \* > \*\*No gagging here…I wonder what that says about me? 😉 \*\* I don’t know what that says about you…but I want to get to know you better. ---
**Author:** ![JimmyNipples](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/eb9ed0/32.png) [@JimmyNipples](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JimmyNipples)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2000, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/every-morning-i-gag/29466/15 "2000-08-16T12:42:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Kilgore Trout \* > \*\*i am the same. > > when i get the gag feeling, i make a really angry face, using my eyebrows especially. it seems to help. \*\* Thats funny!!..quite the visual. I’ve got a picture of that Muppet…“Sam The Eagle” brushing his teeth (beak) Geez…you even post like Vonnegut! ---
**Author:** ![JimmyNipples](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/eb9ed0/32.png) [@JimmyNipples](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JimmyNipples)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2000, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/every-morning-i-gag/29466/16 "2000-08-16T12:46:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by yojimbo \* > \*\*I thought it was just me . I’m not a freak (well at least not because of that reason) . \*\* Isn’t it great when you find out that most everybody is a freak?..just like you? I feel much better…thats for sure. ---
**Author:** ![JimmyNipples](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/eb9ed0/32.png) [@JimmyNipples](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JimmyNipples)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2000, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/every-morning-i-gag/29466/17 "2000-08-16T12:49:15Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by cher3 \* > \*\*Maybe you’re pregnant. I had to give up using my Sonicare during the first trimester because I gagged to much. > > \*\* Yeah…I thought of that…turns out I’m just a fat slob. ---
**Author:** ![JimmyNipples](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/eb9ed0/32.png) [@JimmyNipples](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JimmyNipples)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2000, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/every-morning-i-gag/29466/18 "2000-08-16T12:53:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by iampunha \* > \*\*I close the back of my mouth when I brush my teeth. It helps a LOT. \*\* What do you mean? Do you just give the brush enough clearance when you’re doing your molars? I hope it’s that…because if you’ve got one of those jaws that disconnect (articulating mandible?)…you’d be a snake…and then you wouldn’t be able to even pick up your toothbrush. ---
**Author:** ![JimmyNipples](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/eb9ed0/32.png) [@JimmyNipples](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JimmyNipples)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2000, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/every-morning-i-gag/29466/19 "2000-08-16T12:56:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by boli \* > \*\*. Now on the days that I actually throw up (maybe a few times a month), the cleanup is much easier. > This also happens to my brother, if that makes you feel any better! \*\* Well, I haven’t actually puked…but I do put on a wonderful show. And yes…it does make me feel better…the more people that are in the same dicomfort as me is a good thing. ---
**Author:** ![micilin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8c91f0/32.png) [@micilin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/micilin)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2000, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/every-morning-i-gag/29466/20 "2000-08-16T16:05:32Z")
You gag? So do I, and I thought it was just me. However, I’ve a theory why I, at least, do: \ A couple of years ago I was woken up by one the most extraordinarily disgusting feelings I’ve ever felt. I had swallowed what I will refer to as my uvula (don’t know if that’s the right word, I’m referring to the thingy that hangs down the back of your throat, could also be an epiglottis or somesuch). This was due, I think, to a combination of a serious boozing session, smoking far too many cigs, sleeping on my back, and also a really bad snoring habit. Anyway, I made it to the bathroom just in time to projectile vomit spectacularly, went back to bed, eventually got to sleep, and for the whole next day was gagging like, well, like someone who was gagging continuously. Imagine, if you will, having someone’s fingers stuck down the back of your throat for a whole day. This was the upshot of having stretched the uvula which was now resting on my tongue. The thing seems to have gone back to normal operation since then, except for the toothbrushing thing. \ So… do snorers gag while brushing their teeth? Another thing: I don’t gag as much brushing my teeth at night. What’s that about? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/every-morning-i-gag/29466.md?page=2)