Had a tooth extraction a couple days ago, and now I'm kinda paranoid about keeping my mouth clean. Dentist gave me the usual spiel about rinsing gently with salt water, no brushing near the area, etc. But honestly, I'm freaked about infection or dry socket (heard horror stories from friends, you know how it is).
So I've been rinsing like every couple hours, brushing obsessively on the other side, and basically avoiding anything that isn't mashed potatoes or yogurt. My mouth feels weirdly clean but also sore and irritated. Wondering if maybe I'm overdoing it? Like can you actually rinse TOO much or brush too often after something like this?
Would love to hear if anyone else went through something similar or has advice on finding that sweet spot between careful and obsessive, haha.
Yeah, I totally get the paranoia—I was exactly the same after my extraction. But honestly, rinsing every couple hours might be a bit much. My dentist mentioned that too much rinsing can actually disturb the healing clot and irritate the gums more. Maybe ease up to just a few gentle rinses a day? Also, I found lukewarm water way less irritating than hot or cold. Just something to consider...
"My dentist mentioned that too much rinsing can actually disturb the healing clot and irritate the gums more."
Yeah, that's spot on. Did your dentist mention anything about saltwater rinses specifically? I've seen some patients swear by them, but others find them irritating. Curious if anyone else has had mixed experiences with saltwater... Also, lukewarm water is definitely underrated—cold water after dental work is just asking for trouble, haha.
My dentist actually recommended saltwater rinses, but warned me to keep it gentle and not overdo it. I found that if I used too much salt or rinsed too vigorously, my gums got irritated pretty quickly. But when I eased up—just a pinch of salt in lukewarm water and gentle swishing—it really did help soothe things. Seems like moderation is key...too much of anything can backfire, I guess.
