Why Do Alcoholics Gag When Brushing Teeth

For many people suffering from an addiction to alcohol, brushing their teeth can become an unexpectedly unpleasant experience.

What should be a simple part of a daily routine can end up triggering feeling sick, retching, dry heaving, or even vomiting.

Some people notice the problem is particularly worse after spending the night heavily drinking, whereas others find that it starts to develop gradually after months or even years of alcohol abuse.

Whilst most people might not have ever heard of this problem before, this is a surprisingly common issue amongst people struggling with an alcohol addiction.

Although it can seem strange to some people, there are actually a number of biological and medical reasons why excessive alcohol consumption can make brushing your teeth unbearable.

This includes acid reflux and stomach irritation and an overactive gag reflex. In fact, consuming excessive amounts of alcohol affects multiple systems throughout the body.

Understanding these causes can help you to better recognise when it is time to seek help and start your recovery journey.

At OK Rehab, our team of specialists understand that addiction impacts far more than just your drinking habits.

In fact, addiction impacts your physical health, your oral hygiene, your mental wellbeing, and your overall quality of life. However, with professional detox and rehab treatment, many people suffering an addiction find that they are able to make a full recovery.

What Is the Gag Reflex?

Before discussing the connection between an alcohol addiction and gagging, it is helpful to understand what the gag reflex actually is.

In fact, the gag reflex is a protective mechanism that is specifically designed to stop foreign objects entering your airway. Essentially, it is there to stop you from choking.

When certain areas of the mouth, including the tongue, throat, or soft palate are stimulated, the body automatically reacts by contracting the muscles in your throat, treating them as threats to be protected from [1].

This response helps to prevent people from choking. However, for some people, this reflex is more sensitive than others.

For some people with a particularly sensitive gag reflect, even normal activities such as swallowing tablets, visiting the dentist, or brushing your teeth or tongue can trigger a gag response.

Unfortunately, an alcohol addiction can make this reflex considerably more sensitive, increasing the likelihood of gagging during everyday activities such as brushing your teeth.

This results in many people who suffer from an alcohol addiction ignore brushing their teeth and looking after their oral hygiene.

Can Alcohol Really Cause Gagging While Brushing Teeth?

Yes, it is important to understand that this is true and that someone suffering from an alcohol addiction can have a more sensitive gag reflex.

Although drinking alcohol does not directly cause the gag reflex to become more sensitive, long-term alcohol abuse can make gagging more likely.

Many people suffering from an alcohol addiction often report having morning nausea, suffering from dry heaving, vomiting and acid reflux.

Others have more sensitive throats, increased gag reflexes and poor oral hygiene as a result of not brushing their teeth.

These symptoms often develop because alcohol damages the digestive system, which then in turn irritates the throat and disrupts the body’s nervous system.

As an individual’s addiction progresses and gets worse, even minor stimulation from something as small as a toothbrush can become enough to trigger a strong gag response, making it incredibly difficult to continue to brush their teeth.

How Does Alcohol Irritate the Stomach and Digestive System?

One of the biggest reasons why alcoholics gag when brushing their teeth is down to chronic irritation of the stomach lining.

This is because excessive alcohol use irritates the gastrointestinal tract, which over time can lead to inflammation of the stomach lining.

When this happens, you are at risk of developing a long term condition, known as gastritis [2].

There are a number of common warning signs that someone is suffering from gastritis, such as some of those listed below [2]:

Nausea
Being sick
Severe stomach pain
Loss of appetite
Indigestion issues
Excessive bloating

When the stomach is already irritated from issues such as gastritis, brushing your teeth first thing in the morning can aggravate your symptoms and make you want to gag.

In fact, for some people with severe symptoms, the simple act of bending over the sink or stimulating the back of the mouth with a toothbrush can be enough to trigger gagging and being sick.

In fact, people experiencing a severe alcohol addiction often describe feeling especially sick during the first thing in the morning, as this is when alcohol levels drop and withdrawal symptoms, including hangovers start to emerge.

Alcohol, Acid Reflux and Heartburn

Another major cause of gagging after drinking excessive amounts of alcohol is acid reflux.

This is because heavy alcohol consumption weakens the body’s lower oesophageal sphincter.

This normally prevents stomach acid from travelling upwards into the oesophagus, which gives you acid reflux, heartburn, a sore throat, chronic coughing and irritation at the back of the throat.

Repeated exposure to stomach acid can make the throat and the oesophagus highly sensitive, making the individual more prone to gagging.

When a toothbrush touches these already inflamed areas, the body will likely respond with gagging or retching.

Alcohol, Anxiety and Stress

It is important to understand that addiction does not only impact the body, but it impacts the mind as well. In fact, an alcohol addiction is strongly linked with a number of different anxiety issues, as well as depression and chronic stress [3].

In fact, research has shown that anxiety and stress are likely to heighten the body’s gag reflex.

People who feel anxious or stressed often experience tight throat muscles, increased sensitivity in the throat, nausea, dry heaving and stomach issues.

For lots of people suffering from an alcohol addiction, anxiety and stress might be particularly bad in the mornings, leading to increased gagging and feeling sick [3].

Damage to the Nervous System

Those who suffer from a severe alcohol addiction can also damage the body’s nervous system. This is because drinking alcohol impacts the nerves that are responsible for controlling lots of different involuntary bodily functions, including swallowing.

Over a prolonged period of time, excessive alcohol consumption may alter how these nerves function and can result in increased sensitivity, abnormal reflexes, issues swallowing, issues coordinating their body and heightened gag reflexes.

Whilst nerve damage varies between individuals, it can contribute to an exaggerated gagging response, especially during the morning.

Dehydration and Dry Mouth

Likewise, it is important to understand that being dehydrated is often linked to gagging.

As we know, alcohol is a diuretic, meaning that it increases fluid loss through increased urination, with frequent drinking often leading to chronic dehydration.

Dehydration then leads to a particularly dry mouth, which then creates several oral health problems, including some of the issues listed below:

Bad breath
Increased bacterial growth in the mouth
Tooth decay
Gum disease

As a result, brushing your teeth can feel uncomfortable and can make you want to gag more easily.

However, opting for a detox will help to alleviate some of those symptoms, as during a medical, detox, hydration levels are carefully monitored to help you to overcome some of these symptoms.

Poor Oral Health Caused by Addiction

As discussed briefly above, excessive alcohol consumption often leads to poor oral health and hygiene, as people with addiction issues often struggle to prioritise their own wellbeing.

Over time, ignoring your oral health will lead to gum disease, tooth decay, mouth and tooth infections, mouth ulcers and even bleeding gums.

These conditions can make brushing your teeth painful or uncomfortable, making sensitivity inside the mouth worse which may contribute to excessive gagging.

Why Does It Usually Happen in the Morning?

Many people who suffer from an alcohol addiction state that gagging is usually worse first thing in the morning.

There are a number of different reasons why this is the case, including experiencing withdrawal symptoms, acid reflux after sleeping on your back, becoming dehydrated throughout the night and waking up feeling anxious or hungover.

By the time people wake up, their body is already struggling with a number of physical symptoms, and brushing their teeth can be the final trigger that causes gagging or sickness.

Is Gagging Whilst Brushing My Teeth a Sign of Alcohol Addiction?

It is important to understand that gagging whilst brushing your teeth is not always a sign of an alcohol addiction. In fact, many people without addiction still have sensitive gag reflexes.

However, when gagging happens alongside other signs of alcohol abuse, it could indicate an alcohol addiction or dependency.

There are a number of warning signs that someone is suffering from an alcohol addiction, including some of those listed below for you:

Drinking alcohol every day
Losing control over how much alcohol you consume
Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when you do not drink alcohol
Drinking to cope with your emotions, worries or issues
Neglecting your work or home responsibilities
Issues with your relationships at home and at work
Experiencing financial issues caused by drinking

If gagging whilst brushing your teeth is accompanied alongside some of the above symptoms, then it might be worth seeking professional help for an alcohol addiction.

Tips to Reduce Gagging While Brushing Teeth

Whilst professional addiction treatment is the most effective solution when it comes to recovering fully, below are some practical strategies that might help to reduce gagging in the meantime:

Use a Smaller Toothbrush. This is because a smaller brush head can reduce contact with sensitive areas near the back of the mouth.
Brush Slowly. This is because aggressive brushing often triggers the gag reflex. Gentle, controlled movements may be more comfortable.
Breathe Through Your Nose. Nasal breathing can help to relax the throat and reduce any existing sensitivity.
Stay Hydrated. Remember that proper hydration can ease the mouth’s irritation and reduce any discomfort.
Avoid Brushing Immediately After Being Sick. If you have recently been sick, wait before brushing to allow your stomach to settle.

Any ongoing or persistent gagging should always be assessed by a healthcare professional, especially if the individual is also suffering from other alcohol abuse-related symptoms.

When to Seek Help for an Alcohol Addiction

Unfortunately, many people tend to dismiss symptoms such as vomiting or gagging as minor inconveniences rather than looking into why they might be experiencing these symptoms.

However, they might indicate significant damage caused by prolonged alcohol misuse, or other health issues.

If you are worried that you might be addicted to alcohol or other addictive substances, then it could be time to seek professional support and treatment.

Conclusion

As discussed above, gagging whilst brushing your teeth is very common for people struggling with an alcohol addiction.

Whilst a sensitive gag reflex could play a role in your symptoms, excessive alcohol abuse often contributes to your gagging for a number of reasons, including stomach irritation, acid reflux, withdrawal symptoms, anxiety, dehydration and damage to the body’s nervous system.

The good news is that gagging and other alcohol related symptoms are treatable with the right help and support.

If you or someone you know is suffering from gagging alongside an alcohol addiction, then you should reach out for professional help and support with a member of the team at OK Rehab.