That pool water taste is the worst, right? I kept making faces every time I had to use it. I totally get being anxious about brushing near the stitches—my dentist said gentle brushing was okay but I was still super paranoid about messing something up. I pretty much lived on soft foods and soup for a week just to be safe.
Funny thing, though—I actually found using a kid’s toothbrush (the really soft kind) helped me feel less worried about accidentally poking the area. I don’t know if it made a huge difference, but it felt less scary than my usual brush. Did you get any advice from your dentist about when it’s safe to brush right over the stitches? Mine was pretty chill about it, but I still hesitated.
Also, the saltwater rinse got old fast...but I think it really did help keep things clean. I did freak out a bit whenever I saw a tiny bit of blood, especially the first couple days. Did you have that too, or was it mostly just soreness for you?
It’s wild how much overthinking happens after dental work. I kept Googling “signs of infection” at every weird twinge or taste, which probably didn’t help my nerves at all. Did you end up using any ice packs for swelling, or was that not much of an issue?
I totally get the paranoia about brushing near stitches. My dentist also said gentle brushing was fine, but I just couldn’t bring myself to do it for a couple days. I used a super soft brush too—honestly, it made me feel a bit more in control. As for the saltwater rinse, yeah, it tasted awful but I stuck with it. I did have some blood the first day or two, which freaked me out, but it stopped pretty quickly. Swelling wasn’t a huge issue for me, but I used ice packs the first day just in case. The overthinking is real... every weird sensation had me on edge.
I totally get the weird paranoia—my brain convinced me I’d somehow ruin everything with one wrong brush stroke. For me, I counted to ten and just barely touched the area with a baby toothbrush. The saltwater rinse was gross, but you’re right, it helped. Ice packs were my best friend, though—I probably looked ridiculous, but hey, whatever works, right?
That brush stroke anxiety is so real—felt like I was defusing a bomb every time I went near the stitches. I remember using a tiny, super-soft brush and still worrying I’d mess something up. Saltwater rinses tasted terrible but did seem to help with healing, even if I dreaded them. Ice packs, though... couldn’t agree more. I wrapped mine in a towel and just camped out on the couch. One thing I’d add: keeping up with gentle oral hygiene made me feel less anxious about infection, even if it took forever. It’s funny how something so simple can be so nerve-wracking after surgery.
That feeling of tiptoeing around the stitches—totally get it. I used to hold my breath every time I brushed, like it’d somehow help me be more careful. The saltwater rinse was my least favorite part too... tasted like the ocean but less fun. I actually found that switching to a baby toothbrush helped a bit with the anxiety. It’s wild how much those little routines matter when you’re worried about infection. I probably overdid it with the ice packs, but at least it kept me distracted from worrying so much.
