That whole “don’t swish or spit” thing seriously stressed me out too. My oral surgeon told me gentle rinsing is okay after 24 hours, but to just tilt my head side to side and let the salt water kind of roll around—no forceful swishing at all. I still felt super paranoid about it, though, and only did it after meals if I really needed to. Did anyone else get that weird taste in their mouth after skipping rinses? Sometimes I wonder if it’s better to risk a little food stuck than mess with the clot...
That weird taste is the worst, right? I kept thinking my mouth was turning into some kind of science experiment when I skipped a rinse. Honestly, I’d rather have a crumb or two hiding out than mess up the whole healing thing. My wallet definitely didn’t want to go back for a “redo.” The gentle tilt-and-roll method felt awkward at first, but hey, better than dry socket (and cheaper). You’re not alone—paranoia totally comes with the territory.
That taste is like licking a penny and a science lab at the same time—totally get it. The tilt-and-roll rinse made me feel like I was doing some weird mouth yoga, but it worked. I was paranoid about dry socket too, especially after my cousin ignored the rules and ended up back in the chair (his wallet cried). You’re handling it way better than I did, honestly. The awkwardness fades, promise.
That metallic taste is the worst, right? I always thought it was just me being dramatic, but it really does feel like you’re chewing on a roll of coins. When I had my wisdom teeth out, I kept thinking the saltwater rinse would make things better, but honestly, it just made me more aware of how weird my mouth felt. Did your dentist give you any tips for handling the soreness? Mine told me to avoid straws and hot drinks, but I totally slipped up and had soup the second day... not my brightest moment.
Dry socket paranoia is real. I remember lying awake convinced every twinge meant something had gone wrong. Have you noticed if eating on the other side helps? For me, sticking to soft foods and letting myself binge-watch shows was the only way to get through those first few days. It's wild how much those little routines help with the awkwardness.
That metallic taste is honestly so gross—I totally get what you mean about feeling like you’re chewing coins. Is it just blood, or something else? My dentist said it’s normal but it still freaked me out. I remember after my extraction, every time I rinsed with saltwater I’d get that weird aftertaste and start worrying if I was doing it wrong. Did your dentist mention how often to rinse? Mine said not to overdo it, but I kept second guessing if I was cleaning enough.
Avoiding straws and hot drinks is supposed to help with dry socket, right? I was so paranoid about that too. It’s wild how your brain just fixates on the tiniest ache and suddenly you’re convinced something’s gone horribly wrong. I tried eating on one side but then started worrying I’d mess up my bite or something. Did you have any trouble with that? Sometimes I felt like food would sneak into the hole anyway, no matter how careful I was.
Soft foods are definitely the way to go. Mashed potatoes, yogurt, scrambled eggs... I basically lived on those for days. But honestly, even chewing soft stuff made me anxious at first. And the boredom! Binge-watching shows made the time pass faster, but I kept pausing to check the extraction site in the mirror. Anyone else get obsessed with checking for “normal healing” vs “something’s wrong”? Maybe that’s just my anxiety talking.
It’s weirdly comforting to hear other people have the same paranoia about dry socket and that metallic taste. Guess it’s just part of the deal. Did you notice how your jaw feels kind of sore for a while too? Mine took at least a week before it felt less achy, but maybe that’s just me being super cautious.
