I get the wallet pain over prescription rinses… half the time, people do just fine with saltwater as long as they’re not swishing too hard or eating tortilla chips two days post-op.
Totally relate to that. My dentist tried to sell me on a $25 rinse and I was like... nah, pass. Salt and warm water did the trick for me, even if it tasted like I was gargling the ocean. Only thing I’d add is I kept a stash of pudding cups nearby—made it way easier to avoid crunchy stuff when I got snacky. Tortilla chips are evil during recovery, trust me.
Salt and warm water did the trick for me, even if it tasted like I was gargling the ocean.
I wanted to believe saltwater would be enough, but I got paranoid after a dry socket scare. Ended up caving and using the fancy rinse anyway—maybe overkill, but it helped my nerves. Pudding cups are genius though... soft foods were my best friend for a week.
Totally get the dry socket paranoia—it’s no joke. I remember thinking every twinge meant disaster, so I’d probably have done the same with the fancy rinse. Sometimes peace of mind is worth the extra step, even if it feels like overkill. And yeah, soft foods are a lifesaver... I lived on mashed potatoes and ice cream for days. Glad you found what worked for you.
I get the dry socket anxiety—been there, and it’s not fun. But honestly, I didn’t go for the fancy rinses after my extractions. My surgeon just recommended gentle saltwater and being super careful with brushing. Felt a bit skeptical at first, but it worked out fine for me. As for soft foods,
—I actually found scrambled eggs and overcooked pasta way more satisfying after a couple days. Guess everyone’s recovery cravings are different.I lived on mashed potatoes and ice cream for days
Saltwater rinse was my go-to too, even though I kept second-guessing if it was “enough.” My oral surgeon said no fancy rinses needed, just patience and gentle care. I was so paranoid about dry socket that I barely talked for two days—felt pretty silly, but hey, no complications. I actually couldn’t do much ice cream (cold made everything ache), but applesauce and instant oatmeal were lifesavers for me. Funny how everyone’s comfort foods are different.