Dear Doctor,

I feel like throwing up every morning when I am brushing my teeth. This happens every day and I am wondering if it is a symptom of some other problem. How can I overcome it?

Jude

Dear Jude,

How long have you been suffering from this problem? There can be several reasons why one throws up while brushing. One can have a very sensitive throat, which prevents anything from entering. Thus the trickle of water or paste mixed with saliva may cause sensation to throw up. If one brushes very hard, pushing brush inside it may irritate the throat inducing nausea. Heart burn can also induce nausea. If you have had nausea once while brushing the teeth, psychological factors may play a role in subsequent occasion, creating sensation to throw up.

Nausea can be due to other reasons causing nausea and vomiting as well. For example, morning sickness in women, taking tea or coffee in morning before brushing teeth, use of drugs like NSAIDS or dyspepsia.

To overcome this problem, try breathing through mouth while brushing. Keep muscles of mouth along with the mind relaxed. If nausea develops, try to be relaxed and hold the sensation back. Avoid using tooth brush with hard bristles. Brush softly, avoiding irritation to the throat, by going deep. If dyspepsia is present, it can be treated with suitable diet changes and medicines.

Dr Rachna Pande  is a specialist in internal medicine at Ruhengeri Hospital