The swelling got me worried, honestly, but the dentist said it’s normal unless it gets worse or looks infected.
Same here—my main concern was the swelling and whether I’d have to pay for another visit if something went wrong. I kept track of symptoms daily to avoid any surprise costs. Ice packs did help, but I also found that keeping a log of pain and swelling made it easier to decide if a call to the dentist was needed or just more rest. Pudding is great, but I switched to applesauce after a day—cheaper and less sugar.
Tracking your symptoms like that is honestly a smart move—a lot of people just wait and hope for the best. Swelling is annoying, but as long as it doesn’t get worse or start looking funky, you’re probably in the clear. Applesauce over pudding makes sense, too... less sugar crash.
Swelling after implants is such a pain, but you’re right—if it’s not getting worse or turning weird colors, you’re probably okay. Did your dentist give you any tips for keeping the area clean? I remember after mine, I was paranoid about infection and kept checking in the mirror every hour. Applesauce is a solid choice, by the way. I tried pudding once and it just felt too sweet, especially when you’re already feeling off. Are you able to sleep alright with the swelling? That was the hardest part for me.
The swelling is the absolute worst part, right? I remember after my first implant I looked like I’d gone a couple rounds with a squirrel—cheek all puffed out. My dentist was big on keeping things super clean but not overdoing it. He said gentle saltwater rinses (like, barely swishing, not gargling like you’re mad at your mouth) could help, but to wait at least 24 hours before starting those. I kept a little cup by my bathroom sink and just did it a few times a day. Made me feel like I was doing something, at least.
Sleeping was a whole saga. Laying flat made my face throb, so I stacked up pillows—felt like I was trying to nap on a mountain. It helped a bit, but honestly, I still woke up every couple hours just to check if my face had ballooned up more. Not the most restful week of my life. Ice packs were my best friend for the first 48 hours, though I got tired of feeling like half my face was frozen.
I’m totally with you on the food thing. Applesauce is perfect—chill, not too sweet, doesn’t make you work for it. Pudding was a no-go for me too. After a while all that sweetness just made me feel kind of gross. Ended up sticking to mashed potatoes and cold scrambled eggs when I needed something more filling. Oh, and avoid anything with seeds or tiny bits that might sneak into the stitches—that’s a lesson I learned the hard way with a rogue piece of quinoa. Not fun.
Honestly, as long as the swelling isn’t getting worse and there’s no weird color or smell (gross but true), you’re probably on track. That said, if anything feels off, don’t be shy about calling your dentist. They’ve heard it all before—I once called mine in a panic because I thought my stitches were unraveling, but turns out it was just some leftover gauze stuck in the corner of my mouth.
Hang in there. It gets better faster than you think, even if it doesn’t feel like it now.
Swelling was a big deal for my kid too—he looked like he’d stuffed a tennis ball in his cheek for a couple days. We did the saltwater rinses after the first 24 hours, but honestly, trying to get a 9-year-old to “gently swish” is like herding cats. He hated ice packs at first but warmed up to them when he realized it helped the ache. Food was tricky—smoothies became our go-to, but I totally agree about avoiding seeds. I freaked out about the stitches a couple times, but the dentist kept reassuring me as long as there’s no funky smell, weird color, or extra pain, it’s usually fine. It’s tough watching your kid go through it, but it really does get easier by the end of the week.
