The yogurt cube trick does sound handy, but honestly, I found cold stuff sometimes made my pain worse rather than better. Everyone's different, I guess. When I had my graft, room-temperature foods like mashed avocado or lukewarm oatmeal were way easier on my mouth. I know the anxiety you're talking about though...it's tough not knowing if what you're feeling is normal or if something's wrong. If you're still struggling after a few more days, maybe consider getting a second opinion? I did, and it really helped ease my mind. Sometimes just hearing another professional say "you're healing fine" can make all the difference. Hang in there—it does get better.
I totally get what you're saying about cold stuff—ice cream and smoothies made me cringe after my graft. Weirdly enough, warm (not hot!) broth or scrambled eggs were my go-to. Definitely second the idea of a second opinion if pain sticks around...peace of mind helps a ton.
Reading your experience brought back memories of when my daughter had her bone graft surgery. She had a similar reaction to cold foods—ice cream was surprisingly uncomfortable for her too. We initially thought cold treats would be soothing, but she described it as almost painful, like a sharp sensitivity. Warm foods ended up being her comfort zone as well. She practically lived on lukewarm mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs, and mildly warm soups for the first week or so.
One thing we noticed was that even slightly acidic foods—like tomato-based soups—caused her discomfort, so we stuck to bland, neutral options. I remember feeling worried because the surgeon had mentioned ice cream and smoothies as ideal post-op foods, and here she was struggling with exactly those things. It was reassuring to hear from others at the time that this wasn't unusual.
Regarding the lingering pain, I completely agree with your suggestion about getting a second opinion if it persists. We had a similar concern around the two-week mark because she still complained of soreness and sensitivity. Our surgeon reassured us it was within normal healing parameters, but just having that conversation eased our minds tremendously. Sometimes, just knowing you're not alone in experiencing something unexpected can make a huge difference.
Hope things improve soon—hang in there, recovery can feel slow at times, but it does get better gradually.