6 Tips to Beat Nausea After Dental Sedation

Here are six tips to help you feel better if you are feeling nauseous after your dental procedure.

Dental sedation has many positives for those that have trouble going to the dentist. The most important of them is the simple fact that they can get their oral treatment comfortably, instead of avoiding it altogether. Still, this practice comes with its downsides, one of them being post-sedation nausea. Here are six tips for getting over this feeling and getting on with your day.

Schedule an Appointment – Call (314) 862-7844

Excellent

The Dental Anesthesia Center: Sedation and Sleep Dentistry4.9

Based on 248 reviews

See all reviews

review us on

Karen M.

Devon’s has received his dental services here for several years. The staff are always pleasant. Dr. Hoffman unmatched. His bedside manner is always welcoming. Devon receives amazing care and support based on his assessed needs. Feedback and instruction is clear and detailed. Follow-up is greatly appreciated. I appreciate their acceptance of differences and assurance that Devon will be taken care of.

Christopher H.

Best Dentists in St. Louis. Really a great dental experience. I have used this office for regular dental care, cavities, crowns, and cosmetic dentistry. Teeth look great.

Response from the owner:Christopher we apologize for the belated response. We are very pleased to hear you have a great dental experience with our office! Thank you for your kind words. We look forward to seeing you at your next dental appointment!

The Nashville T.

Amazing

Response from the owner:Thank you so much! We truly appreciate the amazing review! ⭐️

Regina D.

Thanks Laina for making my visit great. You are the best.

Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind words! We’ll be sure to share your appreciation with Laina. 😊

Reevina H.

Dr. Behl! I cannot recommend Dr. Maris Behl enough. If you have dental anxiety, she is truly the kind of dentist you hope to find. If teeth could be wrapped in pillows and protected by flying unicorns, Dr. Behl would somehow make it happen. I have significant anxiety around dental procedures and have needed deeper sedation for dental work in the past. From the beginning, Dr. Behl took the time to listen to my concerns and made me feel genuinely heard rather than dismissed or rushed. She created such a sense of trust and safety that I was eventually able to have my dental work done with only nitrous instead of full sedation, which is something I honestly didn’t think I would be comfortable doing. During my crown placement, she explained what she was doing throughout the procedure, which made an enormous difference in keeping me calm. She also took the time to address a filling that had been bothering me for what felt like forever — and she actually fixed the problem. What stands out most about Dr. Behl is how safe I feel in her care. She is compassionate, patient, communicative, and incredibly attentive to how her patients are feeling. For someone with dental anxiety, that combination is invaluable. Finding a dentist I trust this much has completely changed my experience with dental care. I am incredibly grateful to Dr. Behl and would recommend her without hesitation, especially to anyone who has dental anxiety or has struggled to feel comfortable receiving dental treatment.

Response from the owner:Thank you for such incredibly kind words! We’ll be sure to pass this along to Dr. Behl. We’re pretty sure the flying unicorns are going to be the part she remembers most! 🦄💙 We’re so glad our team could help make your experience a more comfortable one.

Follow Eating and Drinking Guidelines Before Sedation

While this tip doesn’t apply to your post-sedation behavior, it relates heavily to getting over your nausea. The reason is that those who don’t follow these guidelines are much more likely to vomit during and after their treatment. Doing so will only increase the severity of your symptoms. In general, the best approach is to not eat or drink for around six hours before your appointment, though your dentist may have an alternate recommendation.

Stay Active

This is one you have to be careful with. On the one hand, doing some walking, basic chores, and generally staying active can quell your nausea and take you out of the head fog that many patients experience. On the other, you will be a bit out of it and don’t want to push yourself too far. The happy medium is likely doing low-stress tasks while being mindful of your limitations.

Drink Water as Soon as Possible

When you get out of sedation, you will likely be dehydrated from your pre-treatment fast. This factor is significant because your body decreases its functionality when it doesn’t have what it needs. Fortunately, you can get things started again by drinking a cup or two of water. Doing so will signal to the rest of your body that it is time to wake up and start eating, and your nausea should subside.

Move to Tea or a Carbonated Beverage

Your next step after water is moving on to a different drink. Some people love the way tea settles their stomach, and report that ginger and green are the best variants to try. Others prefer a carbonated beverage, such as a club soda. When you come out of your sedation, try these drinks out and see what agrees with you.

Eat a Stomach Friendly Meal

Once you’re out of the initial stages of intense nausea, it is time to eat. When you do, your best bet is opting for stomach-friendly foods like crackers, soup, and yogurt.

Get Medication if Necessary

Though most people find that their nausea is gone after just a few hours, others experience extended symptoms. If this is the case for you, don’t hesitate to call your dentist. You may pick up some needed tips or, in the most dire circumstances, get a prescription to fight those feelings.

We hope that after reading this article, you are more comfortable with nausea you might feel after your dental sedation. While this feeling is unpleasant, it generally doesn’t affect a significant proportion of patients, and when it does, it goes away relatively quickly. The truth is that this issue is manageable and should not get in the way of your dental care. If you follow these tips, there is a good chance it won’t.