An NG tube will never feel invisible, but several practical strategies can significantly reduce the soreness, gagging, and irritation that make it hard to tolerate. Most of the discomfort comes from three sources: the tube pressing against the inside of your nostril, friction in the back of your throat, and a dry mouth. Addressing each of these makes a real difference, whether the tube is in for a day or several weeks.
Reducing Pain During Insertion
The worst part for most people is the insertion itself. If you haven’t had the tube placed yet, or if it needs to be replaced, ask your care team about using a numbing agent beforehand. A large meta-analysis in the journal Medicine found that lidocaine, delivered as a nasal spray, atomized mist, or gel applied to the tube, consistently reduced insertion pain compared to standard lubricant alone. All three delivery methods worked well, lowering pain scores by roughly the same amount. The numbing gel or spray is applied to the nostril and back of the throat a few minutes before the tube goes in.
During insertion, sipping water through a straw helps pull the tube down your esophagus and eases the scraping sensation against the back of your throat. If you’re allowed to drink, take small, steady sips when your nurse tells you to swallow. If water isn’t an option, taking a deep breath and holding it serves a similar purpose by closing off your airway so the tube slides toward your stomach rather than your windpipe.
Choosing a Smaller, Softer Tube
The tube’s size and material matter more than most patients realize. Polyurethane tubes are thinner and more flexible than older PVC models, and clinical data shows they improve both comfort and patient acceptance. A smaller diameter tube puts less pressure on the delicate tissue inside your nostril and takes up less space in the back of your throat. If your tube is being placed for feeding rather than stomach drainage, a fine-bore polyurethane tube is typically an option. It’s worth asking your care team whether a smaller size would work for your situation.
Protecting the Skin Around Your Nose
The tape holding the tube in place creates a constant point of friction and pressure on the bridge and side of your nose. Over hours and days, this can cause redness, rawness, and even small pressure sores. A thin hydrocolloid dressing (a flexible, skin-colored pad) placed between the tape and your skin acts as a barrier. In one feasibility trial, nurses used a product called DuoDERM Extra Thin as an anchoring layer under the tape, along with small foam pads placed right where the tube exits the nostril. This combination cushions the contact point and distributes pressure more evenly.
If you notice the tape pulling on your skin or the area around your nostril getting red and sore, let your nurse know. Retaping with a protective barrier underneath, or switching to a different securement method, can prevent the irritation from getting worse. The tape should be checked and replaced regularly, especially if it gets damp or starts peeling.
Managing Throat Soreness
A persistent sore throat is one of the most common complaints with an NG tube. The tube rests against the back of your throat every time you swallow, and that constant contact causes inflammation. You can manage this in several ways:
- Cough drops or hard candy. Sucking on these keeps the throat moist and coats the irritated tissue. Lozenges containing benzocaine add a mild numbing effect.
- Throat sprays. Over-the-counter pain-relieving sprays can temporarily dull the soreness right where you feel it.
- Pain relievers. Acetaminophen or ibuprofen taken by mouth (or through the tube, if your team allows it) can help with the baseline ache.
If you’re allowed to drink fluids, frequent small sips of water throughout the day help more than anything else. The moisture soothes your throat and reduces the friction between the tube and your tissue.
Keeping Your Mouth Comfortable
Mouth dryness is an underestimated source of misery with an NG tube, especially if you’re not eating or drinking by mouth. Without regular chewing and sipping, saliva production drops and your lips, tongue, and cheeks can dry out and crack.
Water-based dry mouth gels applied to the lips, inner cheeks, tongue, and roof of the mouth help maintain moisture. Products like Biotene, Oralieve, or BioXtra oral gel are designed for this purpose. For real relief, the gel needs to be reapplied every two to three hours, not just once or twice a day.
Brushing your teeth at least twice a day is also important, even though it feels awkward with a tube taped to your face. Brushing removes plaque buildup (which accelerates when you’re not eating normally), stimulates saliva flow, and gently massaging the gums and cheeks during brushing can actually help desensitize the mouth area. If you need help brushing, it’s usually easiest for someone to stand to your side or slightly behind you.
Positioning Yourself for Comfort
How you sit or lie in bed has a direct effect on how the tube feels. Keeping the head of your bed elevated to at least 30 degrees, and ideally 30 to 45 degrees, is the standard recommendation. This angle prevents stomach contents from traveling back up around the tube into your throat, which causes burning and increases the gagging sensation. If you’re receiving tube feedings, stay at this angle for at least one hour after each feeding.
When you shift positions in bed, be mindful of the tube’s external portion. If it pulls or tugs at the nostril, the discomfort spikes. Loosely looping the external tubing and securing it to your gown or pillow gives you some slack to move without yanking. Some patients find that sleeping slightly on the side opposite the tube nostril reduces the feeling of pressure.
Mental Strategies That Help
The psychological side of tolerating an NG tube is real. The constant awareness of something foreign in your nose and throat can be distressing, and for many people, the sensation triggers an ongoing urge to gag or pull the tube out. Distraction is genuinely effective here. Watching something engaging, listening to music or podcasts, talking with visitors, or playing games on your phone shifts your attention away from the tube. Over time, most people find the sensation fades into the background, but that adjustment can take a full day or two.
Slow, controlled breathing through your mouth when the gagging feeling surges helps your throat muscles relax around the tube. Trying to swallow forcefully or repeatedly often makes things worse because it draws your attention to the tube and tenses the muscles around it. Instead, breathe slowly, let your shoulders drop, and give the sensation a minute to pass.
Communicating With Your Care Team
The single most effective thing you can do is speak up about what specifically bothers you. If the tape is pulling your skin, say so. If your throat is raw and you haven’t been offered lozenges, ask. If the tube feels like it has shifted or is pressing harder on one side, mention it. Nurses can adjust the tube’s position slightly, retape it with padding, or offer comfort measures you might not know are available. Pain from an NG tube is expected, but it shouldn’t be something you just endure without any intervention.