View Full Version : Need your help again- gagging on mouthguard
I asked about this in the products section before, but i'll put it out here in general this time since I don't necessarily want to buy anything, and hopefully i'll get more suggestions this way.
I don't remember how long ago it was, but i'll guess 6-8 weeks, I had to stop sparring in the middle of a match because I was gagging on my mouthguard. My instructor cut the ends off. I tried just putting it in my mouth the next day, but I couldn't stand it and I was starting to gag on it again. I posted here, and I got some suggestions about it. Someone suggested I remould it to fit my bottom teeth. I took the recommendation and tried that out. I also have been making sure I keep a drink in my bag so i'm not putting it in with a dry mouth. I thought I had the solution until today, when I started gagging on it again. I'll just say that I am glad I decided not to eat before going to class (In case you think this might be related, it's most likely not. It is fairly normal for me not to eat until i've been up 5 hours or more due to medication i'm on).
I am currently using a shock doctor mouth guard, but I have had this happen before with 2 or 3 other varieties. One a cheap walmart one, and the others were slightly more expensive, felt a bit thicker than the cheap one, but not much else was different.
I'm open to trying most suggestions so long as large amounts of time and money are not required, though I have even considered the dentist fitted option. The only reason I won't go for it is that I could gag on it just as much as I do on cheap ones. I can afford to spend the money if it is necessary and will work, but with no guarantees, I just can't put out that money. I've got other expenses to consider, and I don't want to put that much money to waste.
AstreaEvania
08-01-2004, 00:51
I've never worn a mouthguard before but I know exactly how awful it is to have something like that in your mouth. I had a mouthpiece when I was little to stop me from grinding my teeth at night. I ended up not being able to use it because I kept gagging. I don't know if this is possible or not, but perhaps you have some sort of custom fitted appliance. Kind of like what they do at the orthodontist's when they take a mold of your mouth to fit you for a retainer. I realize that mouthguards are alot thicker than retainers but perhaps the general principle could be applied? As long as there's something keeping it in place instead of moving around to freely, you shouldn't have the gag reflex. Good luck!
Always & Forever,
Æ
Dentists can easily form a mouthguard for you... itll cost about $40, but itll save you alot of greif down the road. Aso talk to your dentist about tricks to reduce your gag reflex.
Jeff Burger
08-01-2004, 06:34
Once you have a good fit just get used to it.
Where it whenever you can....basics, jogging, lifting...
Its not something you want bothering you when you spar.
But by all means wear one. Teeth are exspensive.
Jeff
i once had this problem myself. what i did was cut about 1/4th of an inch off the ends then placed the mouthpiece in boiling water for about 1 minute. then put your mouthpiece in and bite down as hard as you can so that the soft plastic forms properly around the stucture of your mouth. **poof**, my gagging was gone :wink2: .
this did the trick for me, hopefully works for you as well... :bow:
Chad, please read my original post. The ends were cut off.
I know Jeff, that's the cause of the problem. If I didn't need my teeth I could just go without one and i'd have no problems. I did go without one for a while because I just couldn't stand them. I realize that isn't such a good idea.
If it's only gonna be about $40 to get a dentist fitted one, i'll be willing to pay for that. I'll just have to find time to get to the dentist to do it.
i did notice you had said the ends were cut already. ;)
did you soften it up already by boiling? this is the only method i am aware of that allows you to form the mouthpiece appropriately. also, what size mouthpiece are you using? i know that there are some that come in different sizes. might possibly give a child's size a try.
but i do know its almost impossible to have mouthpiece straight out of the package that doesnt cause gagging. its only natural that your mouth doesnt care for something that awkward, hence, causing the gag reflex. if you soften it by boiling, im quite sure you'd notice a huge difference :bow:
If I took it straight out of the package and tried to put it in my mouth it wouldn't even go on. I didn't even know people did that until my friend mentioned it for some reason. When I bought a new one I tried to put it in my mouth without molding it, and I couldn't get it on my teeth at all.
I have an adult sized one, and I never did consider that. Maybe I should get a kid's one. When I got braces they said I had a smaller than normal jaw. I didn't have teeth pulled, but other orthodontists might have pulled teeth to make room. I've also only got wisdom teeth on the bottom, and there's no room for them on the top (hooray for evolution). Maybe I would benefit from a smaller mouth guard since i've got a smaller mouth. Since it won't cost me much, i'll try it.
I did a search on the one I have, and it claims to be designed to reduce gagging. If it really is, I guess I must have a super strength gag reflex. Then again, I don't know how they came up with that fact.
good luck in your search for a gag-free sparring session ;)
DragonMind
08-02-2004, 10:09
The gag reflex is often exacerbated by hyper-ventilation. How is your breathing? You might want to practice breathing through your nose during sparring.
tkdcanada
08-02-2004, 11:49
The gag reflex is often exacerbated by hyper-ventilation. How is your breathing? You might want to practice breathing through your nose during sparring.
Yes, breathe through your nose! The dentist gave me this trick when I kept gagging on those things they put in your mouth to take x-rays and it really works.
Jen,
I had a Shock Doctor once. I choked on that thing big-time. Nothing I did with it helped. My solution was to throw it in the trash and go buy the cheapest mouthguard I could find; it cost me about $2.50 US.
The cheaper ones are thinner, with less plastic. I do not choke on it at all. Big difference.
Jeff Cook
Wabujitsu
I had the same problem in water polo, believe it or not.
Part of your difficulties may lie in having the edges of the mouthgard too long, or the bottom too deep, as if your teeth were longer than they really are. Imagine a letter U that is really tall, if that makes any sense.
Get a few cheap ones and clip the backs, as you've already done, and melt them to fit, and experiment a little. Your mouth may simply not be the same size and shape as the product you're buying (like me with jeans!)
If you're going to get hit or grapple, a mouthguard is very important. It is far, far cheaper than a dentist. You should keep trying until you find a solution as opposed to not bothering.
One kind I like, that fits me well, is a black and white one I got at Copeland's that has lightning bolts on the molars. I joke that when I put lightning bolts into my head, I think faster.
Good luck. Get some cheap ones, melt them, cut them, and try it out. See what you come up with.
Last night I managed not to have any problems until my last match. Then I was really starting to gag on it, but I managed to finish. I know i'm supposed to breathe in through my nose, but whether or not I do that during sparring, I honestly couldn't say. I know usually do just naturally (I am extremely annoyed by loud mouth breathers). It seemed to be last night that if my tongue touched the center of it, then I would start feeling like I was gonna gag. So, if I held my tongue down flat in my mouth I was fine, but if I stopped thinking about it, I was feeling it again. It would just be unnatural to hold my tongue like that the entire time. Also, i've held many pieces of gum under my tongue to hide them from a teacher without gagging.
So, maybe tonight if my friend still wants to do something i'll drag her to Dick's to go buy some new ones to experiment with. I guess i'll get a couple kid's sized ones, a few adult sized ones that don't look like ones i've tried before. I guess I can try them all at home, then i'll give them all a few sessions of field testing.
I've never gagged when I put things into my mouth :rolleyes: :laugh:
No really, I used to gag when I brush my tongue in the mornings. That is when the brush is at the back of the tongue, but I've managed to stop myself from gagging by suppressing the gag reflex.
Perhaps you can try that too. Besides, it gives a fresher mouth in the mornings. Not trying to say that you have bad breath!
I bought a cheap kid's size one, which is made by Shock Doctor, but doesn't say it on the front of the packaging, only in small print on the back. I also got the same thing I had already but in a kid's size. The selection was really pretty bad at Dick's. Those were the only two kid's size ones without the strap. They also had a cheap adult's sized one I thought of getting, but I decided not to since i've had ones like that already. They had the same thing I already have, and a 3 other types with a strap. Everything in the store was a Shock Doctor. There was an inbetween model of the two I got, but none without the strap. I might try that if the thicker one doesn't work and I can find it without the strap. The thin one just seems too flimsy, but it'll be better than nothing if the other one doesn't work. I might try starting out with the thinnest one, and then moving to the thicker one after I get used to it.
DragonMind
08-04-2004, 09:05
It seemed to be last night that if my tongue touched the center of it, then I would start feeling like I was gonna gag. So, if I held my tongue down flat in my mouth I was fine, but if I stopped thinking about it, I was feeling it again. It would just be unnatural to hold my tongue like that the entire time. Also, i've held many pieces of gum under my tongue to hide them from a teacher without gagging.
The gag reflex is triggered by pressure to the posterior pharynx area. In a lot of people this is also caused by pressing on the rear of the soft palate (roof of the mouth). That sounds like what is happening when you press your tongue against the roof of the mouthpiece. I would suggest cutting away the part of the mouthpiece that might touch your palate.
BTW that tongue reaction also sounds like you are gritting your teeth. Another consequence of not breathing calmly.
redqueen290
08-08-2004, 21:03
Dentists can easily form a mouthguard for you... itll cost about $40, but itll save you alot of greif down the road. Aso talk to your dentist about tricks to reduce your gag reflex.------
(there r tricks to reduce your gag reflex!?) :rolleyes:
-emily nealey
DragonMind
08-09-2004, 07:54
(there r tricks to reduce your gag reflex!?) :rolleyes:
-emily nealey
Yes there are, but we're straying dangerously close to another arena we probably shouldn't go to with the young people we have on this forum.
That's right, I'm talking about carnival sword swallowers! :eek:
I have a simliar problem I slobber a lot with my mouthguard. I guess the solution is for me at least breath threw my nose. I guess for gagging try to keep your tongue from touching the mouth guard?
DragonMind
08-11-2004, 08:57
I have a simliar problem I slobber a lot with my mouthguard. I guess the solution is for me at least breath threw my nose. I guess for gagging try to keep your tongue from touching the mouth guard?
Sounds like it may also be triggering your salivary glands. Check the fit to see if it is rubbing high on your gums. And, yes, breathe through your nose.
I do breathe threw my nose I just have to keep my mouth shut. Its when I try to talk, I start to slober.
DragonMind
08-12-2004, 10:08
I do breathe threw my nose I just have to keep my mouth shut. Its when I try to talk, I start to slober.
OK, I know I'm probably going to wish I hadn't, but curiosity has the best of me. What are you talking about when you spar?!?
ACRAWFORD
08-12-2004, 10:11
i once had this problem myself. what i did was cut about 1/4th of an inch off the ends then placed the mouthpiece in boiling water for about 1 minute. then put your mouthpiece in and bite down as hard as you can so that the soft plastic forms properly around the stucture of your mouth. **poof**, my gagging was gone :wink2: .
this did the trick for me, hopefully works for you as well... :bow:
This also worked for me....
Andre Crawford
tkdcanada
08-12-2004, 10:45
That's what you're supposed to do with them. Obviously, if a person tries to wear them unformed, they will be more likely to gag - it needs to be made to fit the mouth properly.
OK, I know I'm probably going to wish I hadn't, but curiosity has the best of me. What are you talking about when you spar?!?
Lol well when I spar my master he will tell me stuff. So naturally I try to speak back.
I too had this gag problem so what I did was go buy a boxing type double mouthguard with breathing holes through the center. It solved my problem.
DragonMind
08-16-2004, 08:12
Lol well when I spar my master he will tell me stuff. So naturally I try to speak back.
Ahh... the old distraction technique! :laugh:
Since it's hard to hit people while you're talking, wait until he starts yammering then nail him while he's busy... :bow:
HAHA thanks and also we my master says fightings stance we have to kiaaa which makes it even harder.
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