Yeah, phantom tooth sensations are actually pretty common—it's your brain adjusting to the new normal. Usually fades after a week or two. And pillow forts? Creative, but probably not dentist-approved sleep therapy, haha... Glad you're past the awkward stage now.
Phantom sensations are definitely weird, had them myself after my extraction. For me, it took closer to three weeks before they completely stopped—guess everyone's brain adjusts differently. Pillow forts though... sounds comfy but probably not great for your neck long-term, lol. Best thing I found was sleeping slightly elevated with an extra pillow under my head; helped reduce swelling and discomfort during healing.
Had phantom sensations too, pretty unsettling at first. Took me around two weeks before things felt normal again. Sleeping elevated helped, but honestly, I worried way too much about dry socket the whole time... Glad that's over now.
"Sleeping elevated helped, but honestly, I worried way too much about dry socket the whole time..."
Yeah, dry socket anxiety is real... Did you find any affordable home remedies or tricks that helped ease your mind during recovery? I'm trying to prep ahead without overspending.
Totally get the anxiety—I was a nervous wreck my first time too. Honestly, the best cheap remedy I found was just plain old salt water rinses. Warm water, bit of salt, swish gently (no vigorous gargling!) and spit carefully. It kept things clean and somehow made me feel proactive, which helped ease my mind a bit.
Also, distraction is key... Netflix binges, podcasts, anything that keeps your mind off obsessing over symptoms really helps. I remember spending hours googling dry socket horror stories—definitely don't recommend that route, lol.
You'll probably be fine though; most people worry way more than necessary. Just follow the dentist's instructions and try not to stress too much. You've got this!
