ALIADENT ORAL AND DENTAL HEALTH CLINIC
Severe Nausea Reflex
While many people are anxious about sitting in the dental chair, the thought of doing so can be even more frightening for patients with severe nausea reflexes. However, avoiding going to the dentist is not a solution; delayed dental care due to fear of nausea can increase your risk of serious oral health concerns.
What Triggers a Severe Nausea Reflex?
First of all, understanding the causes of a severe nausea reflex can help you take steps to reduce its effects. People disagree on whether the severe nausea reflex is produced by physical factors or psychological concerns, but it is possible that the severe nausea reflex can be caused by a combination of both.
In short, the severe nausea reflex, also known as the pharyngeal reflex, is one of the defence mechanisms that prevents foreign objects from entering your throat and blocking the airway, causing you to choke. However, the strength of this reflex varies from person to person. At the same time, psychological factors can contribute to making a person's severe nausea reflex more severe, worsening an already existing problem of severe nausea.
What Can You Do to Reduce the Severe Nausea Reflex?
In addition to understanding whether your severe nausea reflex is triggered by physiological factors or psychological factors, you can take the following steps:
- Concentrate on breathing through your nose
- Breathing through your mouth is one of the most common severe nausea reflex triggers. Focus your attention on breathing deeply through your nose instead.
- Find a distraction
Changing your focus can often reduce the chance of a severe nausea reflex. Squeezing a stress ball, listening to music with headphones or using self-hypnosis techniques help to maintain ongoing dental treatment.
