That “longer teeth” thing really threw me too—felt like I’d aged a decade overnight, but it’s wild how much of that is just swelling going down. Here’s what I’d add from my own deep clean saga:
- The numbing shots weren’t as bad as I feared. Still, I did leave with half my face feeling like a water balloon.
- They used that ultrasonic scaler on me too. The sound was the worst part, honestly—somewhere between a squeaky toy and a tiny jackhammer.
- My gums were tender for maybe three days. I lived on soup and soft bread, and even brushing felt like tiptoeing around landmines.
- Sensitivity stuck around for a bit, but using toothpaste for sensitive teeth helped (and avoiding ice cream... which was tragic).
- Saltwater rinses are clutch, but I got lazy after day three and paid for it with an achy mouth.
One weird upside: my breath improved way more than I expected. Not glamorous, but hey, it’s the little things.
- That “longer teeth” look freaked me out too—felt like I was suddenly 20 years older, but yeah, it’s just the swelling going down.
- Totally agree about the numbing shots. They sound worse than they actually are. I remember worrying I’d drool in public for hours after, but it wore off sooner than I thought.
- The sound of that scaler is brutal. I tried to distract myself by counting ceiling tiles... didn’t really help, but it passed quick.
- Soup and soft foods were my best friends for a few days too. I underestimated how much even toast could feel aggressive.
- Sensitivity lingered for me as well. Sensitive toothpaste made a real difference, though I admit I caved and had ice cream anyway (regretted it).
- Saltwater rinses: easy to skip, but you really notice when you do.
It’s wild how much fresher your mouth feels after all that. Not glamorous at all, but honestly, worth it in the end.
That “longer teeth” thing totally threw me off too. I kept checking the mirror, convinced my gums had just packed up and left. Took a couple days before it stopped looking so dramatic. The swelling going down really does change the whole look, but it settles in eventually.
About the numbing shots—yeah, I was dreading those for weeks. Turns out, the anticipation was way worse than the reality. I thought I’d be drooling for half the day, but it wore off before I even left the waiting room. Still, that weird tingly feeling is something else.
The scaler noise is next-level. I tried podcasts, but honestly, nothing really drowns out that scraping. It’s quick, though, and after a few minutes you kind of zone out. I never thought I’d be grateful for a dentist’s playlist of 80s hits, but here we are.
Soft foods are a must. I underestimated how even crackers would feel like sandpaper. Mashed potatoes and yogurt were my go-tos. Toast was a mistake—definitely too soon for that. The sensitivity hung around for a while for me too. I switched to Sensodyne and that helped a lot, but I still flinched every time I drank cold water for about a week.
Saltwater rinses—ugh, I know. I skipped a couple and instantly regretted it. It’s such a simple thing but it really does make a difference in how your mouth feels.
Honestly, the whole thing is kind of a hassle, but the clean feeling after is unreal. My teeth never felt that smooth before. Not exactly the most fun dental experience, but worth it just to get things back on track. It’s weird how something so uncomfortable can end up feeling like such a relief.
That “longer teeth” look really does mess with your head at first. I remember thinking I’d lost half my gumline overnight, but it did settle down after a week or so. The sensitivity stuck around for me too—ice water was brutal. Did anyone else have trouble with hot drinks as well? I found tea almost as bad as cold stuff, which surprised me.