I am pregnant and gag when I brush my teeth?

Question

I know that I ask a lot of questions, but I just want as much help as I can get with the first pregnancy! But, when I brush my teeth most of the time I will gag. This morning, I gagged, and actually ended up throwing up from it. I was told this is the time that good oral hygiene is the most important, so I am trying my best to brush but when it makes you sick it is a little discouraging.

Answer 1

I did that too, so I think it is normal. I understand that it is discouraging when you gag or even throw up. Mine went away, but I diont remember how far I was when I quit. It will get better.

Sign in to vote!

Answer 2

I do the same thing. I'm normally super queasy in the morning and the toothpaste definitely makes me gag and dry-heave. I find that thinking about something else helps. Once I start thinking about the toothpaste making me gag, I gag. So, I try daydreaming about my baby or what I'll wear for the day or anything like that. Also, try brushing with a dry brush (paste only-no water) and keep the paste as thick as possible so it stays on your teeth and away from your tongue. That may help to reduce the gagging.

Since I'm less queasy at night, I make sure to do a really good job brushing and flossing then, so if I have to just do a quick brush in the morning, at least my teeth are getting cleaned well.

Sign in to vote!

Answer 3

..try not to get any liquid in your throat while brushing your teeth...and if you can dont brush your toung..its pretty much that thats gonna make you gag.

Sign in to vote!

Answer 4

My friend had the same thing. You just gotta keep brushing, if you throw up after.. use mouthwash.

Sign in to vote!

Answer 5

I remember being in my first trimester and having the exact same problem! It was horrible. Try rinsing your mouth with mouth wash to get the bad taste out. When you brush, try not to brush your tongue (that's when I'd gag). Also, don't let the brush hit the roof of your mouth. I felt like I didn't get as clean as I'd like, but I would just throw up instead. Rinse your mouth a lot. It will get better in a few months. Not much else you can do. Feel better!

Sign in to vote!

Answer 6

I'm having a similar problem... when i eat white sandwich bread i gag. i love bread and never had a problem before, but now i can't eat a sandwich with bread. it must be one of the mystery's of pregnancy. lol

Sign in to vote!

Answer 7

Yeah I know exactly what you're talking about. I like to brush my tongue, and that's when I really get into trouble. During the first trimester of my first pregnancy, I couldn't stick a toothbrush in my mouth at all because my gag reflex was so strong. This time around it's not so bad. What helps me is to brush slowly, and in front of a mirror. I concentrate on the image in the mirror and just go slow. I hope this helps. The farther along you progress into your pregnancy, the better it gets. It went away for me at 18 weeks last time. Now I'm 12 weeks and fighting gags.

Sign in to vote!

Answer 8

i know exactly how you feel. just do it bit by bit. you have to take breaks in between and let yourself stop feeling queasy before you attemt it again. it is horrib le when this happen but it will go soon. and dont worry about asking questions. that is what this place is here for

Sign in to vote!

Answer 9

every morning since my wife has been pregnant it does the same to her

Sign in to vote!

Answer 10

I have the same problem. I am 5.5 months pregnant and gag everytime, a couple of those times thrown up.
The best thing I do (it helps a little bit) is spit as much as you can throughout the whole time you are brushing. I find the urge to throw up worse if my mouth starts to fill up.
I hope this helps a bit, hopefully (for both of us!) this will pass soon!

Sign in to vote!

Answer 11

i am going through the same thing, i gag EVERYTIME i brush my teeth. if i throw up, it's usually just fluid. it's all perfectly normal. and unfortunetly there's nothing we can do but wait it out :P

Sign in to vote!

Answer 12

I did the same thing, it is hard. I ended up getting a toddler brush and that helped it seemed that some days were worse than others, on the really hard days I would use a wash rag and then later in the morning I would brush them. Nothing really helped but it did get easier. Also maybe try the kids toothpaste. :)

Sign in to vote!

Answer 13

I went through the same thing. I made sure to brush in the shower as I'd get sick each time.

Sign in to vote!

Answer 14

That's funny, I think I did the same thing. Every time I went to spit, it was like there was stuff in my throat and it made me gag! Quite annoying, and it didn't happen throughout my whole pregnancy, but unfortunately I don't know of anything that will help. Maybe not using a lot of toothpaste and trying to keep it away from the back of your mouth as much as you can.

Sign in to vote!

Answer 15

Try finding a toothpaste with minimal flavor. Toothpaste has always made me gag, and had always made bushing my teeth a chore. I recently started using Tom's of Maine Cinnamon and Clove. It is very mild, and the first toothpaste I actually like! They have many other flavors, I think they may even have ginger, which would be good since ginger eases nausea. I used to used Crest White Expressions in vanilla mint. It was pretty mild as well, and better tolorated, but I would suggest the Tom's.

Sign in to vote!

Answer 16

I know how you feel. That happend to me right through my entire pregnancy. They usually say it lets up by the second trimester. Not in my case. But I know a lot of people who have felt better by the 3rd or 4th month! Good luck! It's all worth it!

Sign in to vote!

Answer 17

I had the same problem, take it slow, you'll learn what actually gags you and can kind of control it, just brush as best as you can but if you don't use mouth wash, now is a good time to start, also make sure you are flossing well. It only lasted through about 10-12 weeks or so for me, so hopefully it will stop soon for you! Good luck!

Sign in to vote!