The pressure placed upon that thumb is distracting enough to take your mind off of the invading tool at hand and ease the throat muscles, making dental work-and any other gag-inducing work-easier to perform. In a 2008 study, researchers examining new ways to prevent gag reflexes from interfering with dental work discovered that participants who gripped their left thumb in a tight fist (made by the fingers of the same hand) were immediately soothed.Īpplication of the trick varies, but in the years since 2008 the thumb and fist trick has gained popularity. Widely circulated online, this trick is one that has its roots in science.Īs Lifehacker reports, a strong gag reflex can be countered and distracted by encircling your left thumb in a fist-and it works quickly. Getting over your gag reflex is most commonly attempted through this method: a tough thumb-squeeze. Whether triggered via touch, sight, sound, or scent, all gag reflexes are simply an attempt to keep us safe. Our body reacts in such a way to prevent foreign objects that are potentially harmful from entering through the throat. When someone else pukes and we're there to watch, we immediately feel our throat muscles contract -and it's also disgusting.Īlthough it can be problematic and unpleasant, researchers Sarapur and Shilpashree note that both forms of the gag reflex are both normal and protective. We react psychologically, however, when it comes to scenarios like vomit.
When something slides too far down our throat, we react by immediately trying to expel the invading force.
The first is what makes it a true reflex. In a study conducted by Bangladesh researchers Shriprasad Sarapur and Shilpashree H.S., the gag reflex is explained in two ways: physiological and psychological.
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