Nausea from Brushing Teeth in the 3Rd Trimester

I too had the nausea after brushing my teeth, I actually had a dentist appt. scheduled and I asked her what I could do to stop the gagging and nausea so she tested several causes. She also said almost all pregnant women experience some form of the nausea with brushing teeth. For me it was the toothbrush bristles touching the roof of my mouth when I brushed the inside of my teeth, so she suggested and gave me a little kids toothbrush to brush on the back sides so I could avoid the skin on the roof of my mouth, plus I had to use crest minty it was the only toothpaste that didn't foam too much and make me want to puke all the time. Something to try out.

I had this problem in my first trimester and found that it was due to having an empty stomach. Initially I was brushing first thing in the morning before I had breakfast. Once I started brushing after breakfast, it was no longer a problem. I found the same thing to be true with morning sickness. As long as I always had something in my stomach, I wouldn't feel sick.

I had the same problem and someone suggested using kids' toothpaste that has a milder taste like bubble gum. I never tried it but I thought I would pass on the info.

Good luck!

I'd consider changing tooth pastes. Find a natural one and a dentist would pass out reading this, but I would do one without fluoride. It really is a toxin and your body might be protecting the baby. I read somewhere that mothers given flouride at larger doses and then their milk from their breasts was tested and the breast had filtered all traces of fluoride out of the milk. In my logical brain, it sort of tells me that maybe humans aren't suppose to have fluoride, but it is added to our drinking water, toothpaste and mouthwash these days. Listen to your body. It is usually smarter than we think.

All the best D. V

I thought it was just me! I experienced this with my first pregnancy. I realized it was mint flavors that really got me. I hated Cinnamon but I used it to keep from feeling so ill. I wish I had known about mamasource 6 years ago. I think everyone provided some good advice.

I had a similar problem in the mornings before going to work. I would even vomit sometimes. I found that it was not the toothpaste, but perhaps gag reflex from brushing & actually the smell of our water. Maybe the chlorine smell of city water? Anyway, I often had to rinse with filtered or bottled water. That helped a bit.

I delivered my second baby in October last year, and my third trimester was full of nausea! Not only when I brushed my teeth (I would gag, ect) but last summer was soooo hot and humid, I felt sick every time I went outside. You are perfectly fine and this is normal. :) Congrats and best of luck!

I am sorry this is happening to you. While I did not experience extended nausea, I could not brush my teeth for my entire pregnancy without gagging (i.e. almost making myself throw up). It was awful. I just started brushing as fast as I humanly could, tried not to swallow any toothpaste and drank lots of water afterwards. I am happy to say that 5 weeks pp, I can now brush my teeth without any problems. I hope things get better for you.

Time to Switch toothpaste!!!

I used tea tree oil (desert essence) toothpaste, as well as cinna-mint (tom's of maine)to combat the tooth brushing nausea. I found these at the health food store, are all natural, and only about $2 more per tube than crest!

Good luck-- I'm sure it will pass with a new flavor

I gagged during and after brushing my teeth for both of my pregnancies. With my 1st, I was able to find toothpaste that worked (a non-minty, mild vanilla one or an orange one that tasted like furniture polish but didn't make me throw up after). With my 2nd, just the motion of the toothbrush made me feel sick. My husband bought me one of those sonic brushes and I was able to use that.

All of these oddities are normal while pregnant--practically nothing ISN'T normal when pregnant! Preggie Pop Drops saved me during pregnancy--as did anything citrusy and sour for some reason. Grapefruits and granny smith apples were always on hand. You can get the drops at Motherhood Maternity or Once Upon a Child. HTH!

Oh yea, I remember that! I had to think of something else while brushing my teeth. For some reason I had to think of oranges and the way they smell, feel and taste. That helped a lot!

Good Luck!!

The same thing happened to me with my first pregnancy, I actually switched to the old fashioned alternative of baking soda and water. Gross, I know but it nauseated me far less. Good luck, and hang in there, not much longer to go now.

Hi T.,
Try a natural toothpaste like Toms. You can find it at the Jewel in the organic section or at Whole Foods.

I had something similar. It went away when I switched to cinnamon toothpaste. Good luck!

Same thing happened to me- used my kids' fruity flavored toothpaste instead

have you tried switching toothpaste? you might try one that is less minty (since mint increases digestion and might be making your stomach think it's time to eat again), and you might try one without flouride.

try toms of maine apricot toothpaste. gl!

I had the same problem. Even down to feeling better during my 2nd trimester. I switched toothpaste and that seemed to help. I talked with my dentist and he told me to avoid brushing my tongue if I needed to. Don't worry...it will all be over soon!

I tell my daughter that she has used up all of her chances to be naughty by making my pregnancy brutal..haha! I had to drive to work with plastic bags in my car because I would get sick on the way!!

Your post just resurrected a bad memory from my pregnancy *laugh*. I cannot stand having a 'dirty mouth' so I brush often, but throughout my entire pregnancy I would gag and dry heave while brushing and felt nauseous after. I had no solution either; just lived with the nastiness. Once that baby came out, it was all over thank goodness.

Not sure if anyone else reccommended this but Tom's has a ginger toothpaste you can use. Ginger is used to calm a turbulent tummy.

I had the same problem - sorry I don't have any advice. By any chance do you use a Sonicare toothbrush?? That's what I used, and it gave me nausea - when I switched to a plain old toothbrush it wasn't quite as bad, but it was still a problem. Good luck !! It'll be over with soon!!

Have you tried using baby toothpaste instead? My mother who gets extremely nausea while brushing and used to actually vomit started doing this after years of suffering and neglecting her teeth because of it!

I do this once in awhile- mostly when I have my period I notice I sometimes also get nauseas and besides using my daughters toothpaste I will brush slower and with warm water instead of the cold to get through it.

I wish you luck finding something that works for you! Many blessings to you and your soon to be here baby!

I had nausea throughout my pregnancy from brushing my teeth. To help with this I switched tooth paste to arm & hammer baking soda tooth paste. It helped a little but I still experienced nausea when brushing my teeth.

Could be the fluoride. I know fluoride can effect some peoples hormones. I have problems with to much fluoride effecting my thyroid. It can make my throat feel like it is closing up. I have to even drink Ice Mountain most of the time since our tap water has fluoride.

Just a thought.

S.

Hi T.,

I had a very similar problem when I was pregnant, but I would actually vomit from brushing my teeth! It was awful. I never did figure out what to do about it, and did not have mamasource to ask questions!!! I think I may have said something to my Dr., but in any event I hope you solve your problem. Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy.

D.

I used to throw up everytime I brushed my teeth from from my second trimester till I delivered. So it was twice as bad. You'll get throught it. Your body changes so much and before you know it, you won't even remember these times. Best of luck to you!!

I had this same problem when I was pregnant but I had it the whole time. I used kid bubblegum toothpaste. I think it was Dora the Explorer. That seemed to work for me.