The tongue thing is honestly the worst—mine kept poking at the gap like it was checking if the tooth magically grew back. I’m with you on the salt water rinse; I was super anxious about infection, so I probably overdid it, but it really did help. Those first few days feel endless, but you’re right—it does get better. I still flinch when I brush near that spot, though... can’t help it.
Yeah, I totally get the tongue thing—it’s like your brain just can’t let it go. I kept finding myself poking at the spot, even though I knew I shouldn’t. The salt water rinse is a lifesaver, but I always wonder if there’s such a thing as too much? I was paranoid about dry socket, so I probably went overboard with the gentle rinsing and babying that area.
Brushing near the gap was the worst for me. I’d tense up every time, convinced I’d hit a nerve or something. Eventually, I started using one of those super-soft baby toothbrushes for that side, just until it stopped feeling so raw. Might sound silly, but it helped me relax a bit.
It’s weird how your mouth just feels… off for a while. Like you’re missing a puzzle piece or something. Did anyone else have weird phantom sensations, like you could still feel the tooth? That part really threw me.
I get what you mean about the salt water rinse, but honestly, I’ve always been a little skeptical about overdoing it. My dentist actually warned me that too much rinsing, even with salt water, can sometimes slow things down because you’re constantly disturbing the clot. I know it feels like you’re helping, but I caught myself rinsing every hour at one point, and I swear it made the area feel even more raw and sensitive. After that, I tried to stick to their instructions—just a couple times a day, super gentle.
The baby toothbrush thing is interesting. I went the opposite way and avoided brushing near the gap almost entirely for a few days, which in hindsight probably wasn’t the smartest. I was so paranoid about poking the wound that I just let that side be, but then I started worrying about infection from not cleaning it enough. It’s like you can’t win—too much attention and you risk messing with it, too little and you worry about bacteria. In the end, I settled for just swishing water after eating and being extra careful with a soft brush, but I never felt totally confident I was doing it right.
The phantom tooth feeling is real. I had it for weeks. Sometimes it was like I could still feel pressure or even a bit of pain where the tooth used to be, especially when I was eating. It’s almost like your brain hasn’t caught up with your mouth yet. Honestly, I found that focusing on other stuff—watching TV, playing games—helped distract me from obsessing over it. The more I paid attention, the weirder it felt.
I guess my main thing is, don’t get too caught up in babying it. I know that sounds counterintuitive when you’re anxious about healing, but sometimes less is more. Trust the process, do what your dentist says, and try not to overthink every twinge or weird sensation. Easier said than done, but I wish someone had told me that before I drove myself nuts with worry.
Funny, I actually felt better rinsing a little more often, at least in the first couple days. My dentist said gentle salt water was fine as long as I wasn’t swishing hard or spitting forcefully, so I did it after meals and before bed. Maybe it’s just a mental thing, but it helped me feel like I was keeping things clean without poking around too much.
I totally relate to the paranoia about brushing though. I was convinced I’d mess up the clot if I even looked at it wrong, but after a while, not brushing made my mouth feel gross. Eventually, I just used a baby toothbrush like you mentioned—super soft, barely touching anything, but it made me less anxious about infection.
The phantom pain is wild. Sometimes it felt like my tooth was still there, especially at night. Distractions helped, but sometimes I’d just poke at the gap with my tongue without even realizing... which probably didn’t help anything.
I get what you’re saying about not overthinking every twinge, but honestly, being a little cautious made me feel more in control. Guess it’s all about finding that balance between being careful and not driving yourself nuts.
I’m actually kind of nervous about rinsing too much, even if it’s gentle—did your dentist say there’s no risk of loosening the clot that way? I keep worrying that even a little movement could cause problems. Maybe I’m just overthinking it, but I’ve read so many horror stories about dry socket that I’m second-guessing everything. Is it really okay to do salt water after every meal, or should I be limiting it more? The whole “don’t spit or swish” thing just makes me want to avoid anything except maybe a quick sip of water...
