That metallic taste drove me nuts too—pretty sure it’s mostly blood, but the saltwater rinse just makes it linger. My dentist was big on “gentle, not obsessive” rinsing... said too much could actually slow healing. Hard to believe when you’re paranoid about infection, right? I tried eating only on one side but yeah, food still found its way in. As for jaw soreness, mine lasted almost two weeks. I think being cautious is smart, but sometimes I wonder if we overthink it and make it worse for ourselves.
That metallic taste is so common after extractions—usually a mix of blood and the rinse, like you said. I’ve seen people get a bit too aggressive with rinsing out of worry, but gentle really does help tissue heal faster. Out of curiosity, did you notice if cold compresses helped with your jaw soreness at all, or did you stick mostly to pain meds?
That metallic taste really does linger, doesn’t it? I always think it’s the worst part, even more than the actual extraction. You’re spot on about gentle rinsing—my oral surgeon was adamant about that, and I noticed a difference compared to when I got a bit overzealous after a previous extraction. The tissue seemed less angry when I just let things be.
About the jaw soreness, I actually found cold compresses surprisingly effective, especially in the first 24 hours. I’d wrap a bag of frozen peas in a towel and hold it against my cheek for 15 minutes at a time. It didn’t take the pain away completely, but it did keep the swelling down and made it easier to manage with fewer pain meds. That said, I still needed something stronger at night—sleeping with that dull ache is no joke.
One thing that caught me off guard was how tired I felt for a couple of days afterward, almost like my whole body was in recovery mode. Not sure if that’s common or just me getting older, but it helped to just accept it and rest up. And honestly, the anxiety leading up to the procedure was worse than the recovery itself.
If you’re worried about over-rinsing, maybe try using a little less force and just let gravity do its thing. I found that tilting my head gently with warm salt water worked better than swishing. It feels counterintuitive, but less really is more here.
Hang in there—it does get better. And if you’re like me and get frustrated by how long it takes to feel “normal” again, just know you’re not alone. It’s a weird mix of patience and self-care, but you’ll get there.
