
The stimulus is provided by sensation to the posterior pharyngeal wall, the tonsillar pillars, or the base of the tongue. The nerve roots of cranial nerves IX and X exit the medulla through the jugular foramen and descend on either side of the pharynx to innervate the posterior pharynx, posterior one-third of the tongue, soft palate, and the stylopharyngeus muscle. The gag reflex is controlled by both the glossopharyngeal (CN IX) and vagus (CN X) nerves, which serve as the afferent (sensory) and the efferent (motor) limbs for the reflex arc, respectively. In cases of psychogenic gag reflexes, even the thought of touching a sensitive trigger area, such as occurs when going to the dentist, can induce gagging. A psychogenic gag reflex presents following a mental trigger, typically without direct physical contact. A somatogenic gag reflex follows direct physical contact with a trigger area, which may include the base of the tongue, posterior pharyngeal wall, or tonsillar area. Two techniques to make swallowing pills easier. DOI: 10.14219/ gag reflex can be classified as either somatogenic or psychogenic. Altering the gag reflex via a palm pressure point. DOI: /article/S0002-8177(14)65414-3/pdf Gagging and its associations with dental care-related fear, fear of pain and beliefs about treatment. tests-procedures/acupuncture/about/pac-20392763 An easy and effective way to reduce gag during orthodontic impression recording. Two tricks to make it easier to swallow pills. answered-questions/gag-reflex-and-stress-0 Acupuncture - An effective tool in the management of gag reflex. DOI: 10.4103/0975-7406.163601 self-care/acupressure-and-common-acupressure-points/ You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy. Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. In the same 2015 study, the technique of distracting the patient (primarily through conversation or physical positioning) was also indicated as an effective way to avoid gagging for some patients. A 2015 study suggested that tranquilizers can reduce anxiety and tension, which can lower the incidence of gagging. According to a 2016 study of people gagging when having an impression made of their teeth, local anesthetic was successfully used to control the gag reflex. There are a number of ways that dentists help their patients stop their gag reflex so the treatment can proceed smoothly.

Dental treatmentsĪbout 50 percent of dental patients say that they gag at least once when visiting the dentist, according to a 2014 study. You can learn more about other pill-swallowing methods in this article.

The lean forward method improved swallowing for more than 89 percent of the people in the study.

#BONE GAG HOW TO#
How to stop your gag reflex during common circumstances
