Naked Science Forum
Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: ukmicky on 06/12/2005 01:32:59
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Why is it when we place a tooth brush or any other object at the back of our mouths/throats it makes us want to throw up. But food doesn't.
Michael (https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi11.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fa186%2Fukmicky%2Frofl.gif&hash=481319b762ee9d57cda15e90d2e83ee6)
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What a great question Michael....so more befitting to this site than the discusssion about Turbo-1s Model of Quantum Gravity !!
It's a gag reflex isn't it?...When we eat we are swallowing intentionally aren't we ?....when we brush our teeth we are trying not to swallow......I wonder if this has anything to do with it ?
I could make a really crass joke about the type of person who might pass by to answer this , but I wont !
Men are the same as women.... just inside out !! (https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.world-of-smilies.com%2Fhtml%2Fimages%2Fsmilies%2Fugly%2Fugly_bums.gif&hash=e21c0210a2673ae990b27e26bb7f6440)
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To Sir neil [:)]
The thing is if you half swallow a piece of food so it dosen't go down your throat but just sits at the back why doesnt it make you puke,like if you were to put your finger there.(not that i do)
Michael (https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi11.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fa186%2Fukmicky%2Frofl.gif&hash=481319b762ee9d57cda15e90d2e83ee6)
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You obviously haven't tasted my ex-wife's cooking
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..Could we perhaps taste your ex-wife instead ?
Men are the same as women.... just inside out !! (https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.world-of-smilies.com%2Fhtml%2Fimages%2Fsmilies%2Fugly%2Fugly_bums.gif&hash=e21c0210a2673ae990b27e26bb7f6440)
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Expecting stimulation makes a difference:-
(e.g. it is usually not possible to tickle yourself ).
Unexpected stimulus (toothbrush) in the throat can cause gagging,
expected stimulus (swallowing food) usually does not.
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ROBERT - I'm not sure that's the entire answer. Not long ago I had my throat examined. The doctor started by holding down my tongue with 1 of those spatulas. I was certainly expecting it, but I still gagged
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Hi DoctorBeaver,
if YOU repeatedly depressed your tongue with a spatula, (note "you" not your doctor),
you would eventually acclimatize to this stimulus without gagging.
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When I was about 20 I had an upper endoscopy (with no sedative at all !)...with a camera shoved down my throat to check my tummy...it was not nice.....
Men are the same as women.... just inside out !! (https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.world-of-smilies.com%2Fhtml%2Fimages%2Fsmilies%2Fugly%2Fugly_bums.gif&hash=e21c0210a2673ae990b27e26bb7f6440)
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My wife has been conditioned to be able to control her gag reflex. I think it's an extremely useful skill for women to acquire.
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Hi moosehole
Totally amazing . but why on earth would your wife need to do such a thing, is there any training required or does it come naturally [:)]
Michael (https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi11.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fa186%2Fukmicky%2Frofl.gif&hash=481319b762ee9d57cda15e90d2e83ee6)
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quote:
When I was about 20 I had an upper endoscopy
I had 1 a few weeks ago[xx(]
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quote:
Originally posted by DoctorBeaver
ROBERT - I'm not sure that's the entire answer. Not long ago I had my throat examined. The doctor started by holding down my tongue with 1 of those spatulas. I was certainly expecting it, but I still gagged
I would guess it might be as simple as the length of time is was there.
Food being swallowed, will at any given moment, only be at the back of the throat for a very short time. The exception to this is if the food has got stuck in your throat for some reason, and in this case, and instinctive reflex to throw up, and dislodge the food, would seem a perfectly reasonable response.
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I've eaten really long peices of candy, like taffy and stuff, and continuously swallowed it without breaking it. I was even able to pull it back up a little bit. None of that made me gag, though I do have a pretty strong gag reflex. I usually gag while brushing my teeth.
ukmicky, my wife did need training to get rid of her gag reflex. As to why she would need that skill, I guess you'll have to ask someone who's better hung than you.
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originally posted by moosehole
ukmicky, my wife did need training to get rid of her gag reflex. As to why she would need that skill, I guess you'll have to ask someone who's better hung than you.
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Moosehole.
The most important thing is not the depth of the engagement, but rather the quality of the action.[;)]
One day you will learn,
Michael (https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi11.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fa186%2Fukmicky%2Frofl.gif&hash=481319b762ee9d57cda15e90d2e83ee6)
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My wife has been conditioned to be able to control her gag reflex. I think it's an extremely useful skill for women to acquire.
I must enthusiastically agree Moose...., the benefits for us husbands or boyfriends are indescribably satisfying.
................................Infy