The amount of fear from a dental visit may be higher among people with frequent gagging problems. The gagging issues may also cause negative beliefs about dentists and dental treatment.

The information comes from the authors of “Gagging and Its Associations with Dental Care—Related Fear, Fear of Pain, and Beliefs About Treatment.”  The authors determined that it is important for dentists to analyze their patients’ chances of gagging while also examining their fears and anxieties. Some dentists want their patients to breath slowly through their nose. Other dentists encourage their patients to lift their legs or wiggle their toes as a way of distracting themselves.

The information appears in The Journal of the American Dental Association.