When I was at the dentist a couple of months ago, the hygienist shared with me a couple of tricks of the trade, which I will now pass on to you.
1. Placing salt on your tongue inhibits your gag reflex. During my visit, this trick helped a lot when they gave me those x-rays where they put cumbersome pieces of plastic near the back of my mouth.
2. Silver nitrate heals burns out chancre sores. The hygienist said to run a nitrate stick (available at a pharmacy) around the edges of a chancre sore. This will cause it to last just a day instead of 7-10 days. UPDATE: But read Tracy’s comment below before you do this. Silver nitrate ain’t all puppies and rainbows.
Wade Rockett 
OK Wade, silver nitrate dosen’t exactly HEAL a canchre sore. It BURNS IT OUT!! I am a nurse and I know what silver nitrate is and what it does. I have even been deperate enough (a long time ago) , to have another nurse use silver nitrate on a sore I had that was terribly painful. Well….it also caused part of my face to feel numb. Like a nerve had been irritated. I knew before hand that it would hurt, but BOY! I was not prepared for how much it actually hurt!!! So, a little forwarning!
Hmmm… Does this salt trick inhibit the gag reflex in women? You know, like girlfriends and such ;)
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–Chris
@ Tracy Williams – that is a VERY important distinction. I’m gonna update the post.
@ Chris – you know, someone had to go there. Better you than me. :-)
Chris: WHY? did you have to go there?! What a prevert! Just make sure your girlfriend, and such, don’t get confused and pick up some silver nitrate!! OUCH!
ok does the salt trick really work
Well, the salt trick worked for ME when I was at the dentist. Your mileage may vary.
These are some tricks I’ve never heard of, but am really tempted to try on my next visit to the dentist. Thanks for sharing.
Pretty cool trick. Love this website :) Btw, your site looks a little wierd in opera browser. Works fine in firefox.
Dentist Kent WA
Haha I am actually the first reply to this great post!?