Toothpaste makes me Gag – Myths and Facts
Feeling nauseous or throwing up while brushing teeth can be an unpleasant start to your day. Worse, it can discourage you from following your daily oral hygiene routine. However, you might feel confused as not many people have this issue. So, in this blog, let’s break down why toothpaste makes you nauseous and what you can do.
Why Do I Feel Sick After Using Toothpaste?
After brushing your teeth, the nauseous feeling can be attributed to factors like flavoring, chemicals, and accidentally ingesting toothpaste. Moreover, you could also unintentionally trigger your gag reflex and cause nausea when brushing your teeth.
These intense feelings can be due to the sensory overload from the chemicals and flavours like intense mint flavors, artificial sweeteners, detergents like sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), and even whitening chemicals.
Mint is also known to be a digestive stimulant in little doses and if ingested while brushing it can cause a gag reflex or vomiting effect, not letting you finish the brushing and cleaning routine
- Flavor
Most toothpastes available on the market are flavored with strong flavors like mint and cinnamon to give you that minty-fresh breath. However, this can have an unpleasant side effect for some people, who find the taste overwhelming and nausea-inducing. - Artificial Sweeteners
Manufacturers use artificial sweeteners like sorbitol or sucralose to make toothpaste taste sweet on the tongue. However, some people may not tolerate them well and feel queasy. - Foaming Agents
One of the best parts of brushing teeth is when the brushing creates foam. It can make you feel like your teeth are clean. However, these foaming agents, like sodium lauryl sulfate, can irritate the mouth’s mucous membrane. Therefore, you might feel nauseous. - Excessive Use
At the back of most toothpaste packaging, manufacturers insist on a pea-size drop on your brush. However, most people tend to overdo it; this can lead to swallowing toothpaste while brushing and can induce nausea. - Triggering Gag Reflex
Sometimes, it isn’t the toothpaste but your toothbrush that might be causing nausea while brushing. It’s because brushing teeth can trigger a protective mechanism known as the gag reflex. This usually happens when something touches the back part of the mouth. Therefore, especially when you brush your back teeth, you might experience a sudden urge to vomit.
Why do I throw up when I brush My Teeth?
The gag reflex, or pharyngeal reflex, is your body’s way to protect your throat and airway. The soft palate at the back can easily be triggered if you brush at the back teeth and touch sensitive areas. When you add a foamy, flavorful, fragrant, rich paste to it, the mouth triggers and tries to expel the irritants.
This is an indication to change the toothpaste to milder flavors and a smaller toothbrush head. You can also use motor brushes and water floss to reach those difficult-to-reach areas.
Stomach Acid causing Vomiting while Brushing
Feeling that sore throat and sour feeling in your mouth, and a sudden urge to get your mouth cleaned by brushing to get rid of that feeling. The next thing that happens is worse than a sour mouth; you gag and want to throw up.
This is mainly due to excessive acid buildup in the stomach while sleeping and the stomach being triggered by brushing.
The easiest way to avoid this is to have a piece of toast or drink a glass of water to buffer the stomach acids, and you can easily clean your teeth, avoiding such instances.
Pregnancy Causing Nausea in Brushing
While you are pregnant, the hormonal changes that balance the body keep fluctuating and increase sensitivities to specific items like smells and flavors. This over-sensitivity can be easily triggered by the chemicals and flavors, causing an intense vomiting reflex.
You can try switching to milder toothpastes, such as children’s paste, or adjust your brushing times to when you are generally feeling better.
Medical Conditions and Medication Side Effects
People with acid reflux, gastritis, and GERD can be easily affected by the chemical effects, as the stomach lining and digestive tract is already inflamed and irritable.
Medications like antibiotics, antidepressants or even iron supplements can also cause a metallic flavor or bitter taste in the mouth. When mixed with toothpaste, it can trigger a gag reflex, causing nausea and vomiting while brushing.
Practical tips if brushing your teeth makes you feel sick
- Use less toothpaste. A pea-sized amount is more than enough; any more just makes it foamier and more overwhelming.
- Switch to a softer brush. Stiff bristles or large heads can irritate your gag reflex.
- Try mouthwash instead of toothpaste. Rinsing with a gentle, alcohol-free mouthwash can maintain freshness when brushing feels impossible.
- Brush in front of a fan or an open window. A rush of fresh air can calm your senses.
- Breathe through your nose. Focused nasal breathing can help suppress your gag reflex and keep you grounded.
Should You Change Your Toothpaste?
The answer to this difficult question is YES! Change that chemical trigger to alternatives of use methods that are less likely to cause such issues. The solution is right in front of you and you can easily avoid these situations of being sick starting your day.
Here are some signs you need a new toothpaste:
- The flavor is too strong or burns
- You gag the moment it foams up
- You feel a lingering sick taste afterward
- You always feel like vomiting while brushing your teeth
Try these alternatives:
- Non-foaming or SLS-free toothpastes
- Mild flavors like coconut, strawberry, or baking soda-based formulas
- Children’s toothpaste, which is typically gentler
- Fluoride-free options (if recommended by your dentist)
When toothpaste makes me gag, sometimes the answer is just finding a formula that doesn’t feel like it’s attacking your senses.
Alternatives to Toothpastes You Can Use
Now that you understand why toothpaste makes you feel queasy consider alternatives to traditional toothpaste. These options can help you have a brushing routine free from nausea.
- Hydroxyapatite toothpaste
This toothpaste is becoming a choice for people who want alternatives to generic toothpaste. Hydropoxite toothpaste usually has a milder formula without fluoride or strong flavoring, so people tolerate it better. - Sensitive Formulations
Toothpaste formulated for sensitive teeth might have fewer additives and milder ingredients, which can reduce nausea. - Different Toothpaste Flavoring
It’s a good idea to try toothpaste flavors other than minty. For example, toothpaste flavored like fruits or foods might be easier on the tastebuds. - Herbal Toothpaste
These toothpaste varieties are flavored with cloves or other natural herbs. They might not cause the nausea that normal toothpaste does. - Vegan Toothpaste
Some kinds of toothpaste marked as vegan don’t contain harsh chemicals and artificial flavoring. Hence, they can reduce the nausea you feel when brushing your teeth.
To Summarize
Feeling nauseous when brushing your teeth should not stop you from maintaining an effective oral hygiene routine. Consider replacing your toothpaste to avoid feeling nauseate and using a smaller toothbrush so you can make the most of your brushing time. By taking these steps, you can even enjoy brushing your teeth as a time to ponder and care for yourself.
If you have more questions about oral hygiene, the professionals at Smile4Ever Family Dentistry can help. We are equipped to handle all your dental care needs. Call us at (281) 213-5668 to schedule an appointment.