Yeah, I get the temptation—minty fresh sounds way better than salty water. But honestly, I’d be careful with mouthwash, especially right after a bone graft. Most of those rinses have alcohol or strong antiseptics that can really irritate raw tissue. I had a friend who tried it too early and ended up with stinging and more swelling, so I just stuck it out with the salt water even though it tasted like the ocean.
The weird numbness you mentioned is actually pretty common. I had patches along my chin and lower lip that felt half-asleep for weeks after my graft. Apparently, it’s from the nerves getting stretched or bruised during surgery—usually fades, but it can be slow. Ice packs helped a bit, but honestly, patience was the real trick. I found using a straw (carefully!) made rinsing less messy too.
If you’re craving something fresher, maybe try a salt-water rinse followed by gently brushing your tongue and cheeks? That helped me feel less gross without risking irritation.
The weird numbness you mentioned is actually pretty common. I had patches along my chin and lower lip that felt half-asleep for weeks after my graft.
Yeah, that numbness is such a weird sensation. Mine lasted almost two months, and I kept poking my chin just to check if the feeling was coming back—probably not helpful, but couldn’t resist. I agree about avoiding mouthwash early on. Even the “gentle” ones seemed to sting for me. One thing that helped a bit was letting cold water sit in my mouth for a few seconds after the salt water rinse—didn’t taste great, but it felt soothing. Also, I found that using a super soft baby toothbrush made it easier to keep things clean without irritating the area. Eating was a whole other adventure... soups and smoothies for days.
That numbness is the weirdest thing, right? I remember running my tongue along my gums every morning just hoping for a little tingle. Took ages to come back. Totally with you on the baby toothbrush—those regular ones felt like sandpaper. The food thing was rough too... I lived on mashed potatoes and yogurt for so long, I still can’t look at either without a flashback. But honestly, it does get easier, even if it feels endless at first. Hang in there, your mouth will feel normal again before you know it.
I lived on mashed potatoes and yogurt for so long, I still can’t look at either without a flashback.
That’s exactly where we’re at with my kid right now—she’s so over the “soft food” menu. We tried switching things up with applesauce and scrambled eggs, but even then, she misses crunchy stuff. The numbness is tough to explain to a little one, too. Some days she just asks, “Will my smile feel normal again?” Reading your post helps me believe it will, even if it takes a while. Thanks for sharing your story.
Honestly, I remember being desperate for anything with crunch after my surgery too. Ended up microwaving tortilla chips just to soften them a bit—still not the same, but better than straight mush. The numbness freaked me out, but it did fade, just took longer than I hoped. Hang in there.