Had my scaling and root planing done yesterday and man, my gums are still sore today. Curious how you guys usually deal with the discomfort afterward...painkillers, cold drinks, Netflix distraction? Quick poll:
A) OTC pain meds
B) Ice packs/cold drinks
C) Just tough it out
D) Netflix binge or distraction
Feel free to share your go-to method below.
Had the same procedure done a while back and can totally relate to that soreness...ouch. Honestly, I started with option A (pain meds) the first day, but after that, I mostly relied on distraction—definitely a Netflix binge kinda situation. Found that ice packs were helpful too, especially when the swelling was at its worst. One thing I learned the hard way: steer clear of hot drinks for a couple days. I made the mistake of sipping hot coffee too soon and regretted it instantly. Lukewarm or cold drinks were much kinder to my gums.
It'll pass quicker than you think, hang in there!
Totally agree about the hot drinks—made that mistake myself once and it felt like my gums were on fire for hours. Did you find that salty rinses helped at all? I know some people swear by them, but personally, I couldn't handle the taste when my gums were already sore. Instead, I stuck mostly to room-temp chamomile tea (not exactly thrilling, but soothing enough).
Also, did your dentist recommend any numbing gels? Mine gave me a sample tube of Orajel, and honestly, it was a lifesaver, especially right before meals. Netflix binges definitely helped distract me too, but I found podcasts even better since I could just close my eyes and zone out without staring at a screen. Either way, you're right—it does pass quicker than you'd expect.
Totally with you on the salty rinses—I tried them once or twice, but honestly, they just made me cringe. Weirdly enough, I found that cool cucumber slices helped a bit. Sounds random, I know, but they're soothing and gentle on sore gums. Orajel was definitely my best friend too; I kept a tube in my bag for emergencies. And yeah, podcasts were great... something about just zoning out to a good story really took my mind off the discomfort. Glad you're feeling better though—it really does get easier each day.
something about just zoning out to a good story really took my mind off the discomfort.
Salty rinses can definitely be a bit intense at first, but they really help reduce inflammation and speed up healing. The cucumber slice tip is neat—makes sense since they're cooling and gentle. Orajel is a solid choice too, especially if things get really sensitive. Another thing that can help is sticking to softer foods for a couple days, like smoothies or mashed potatoes, just to give your gums a break and avoid irritation. Usually discomfort eases up noticeably after 48 hours or so.
