That weird taste sticks around, doesn’t it? I remember thinking I’d never feel normal again with all that going on. Using a kid’s brush was a smart move—same here, just a gentle sweep and lots of patience. It gets easier, promise.
That aftertaste drove me nuts for weeks, honestly. I ended up swishing with salt water way more than the dentist suggested just to feel a bit cleaner (cheap fix, at least). Kid’s toothbrushes are lifesavers—no shame in saving a few bucks on those, either. It’s wild how something so small can make things less stressful. You’re right, eventually it does get better, but man, the waiting game is rough.
That aftertaste is honestly one of the things nobody warns you about. I remember thinking, “How can stitches taste?” but it’s like they somehow do. I got so obsessive with the salt water rinses too—probably way overdid it, but it felt like the only thing I could control. My dentist kept saying once in the morning and once at night, but there were days I’d be in there after every snack, just hoping to get rid of that weird metallic tang.
I totally agree about the kid’s toothbrushes. The first few days, anything with normal bristles felt like sandpaper on my gums. I ended up buying a pack of those super-soft ones with cartoon characters (Sonic the Hedgehog, not even embarrassed) and honestly, they made brushing around the stitches way less stressful. It’s wild how much difference a tiny brush head makes when you’re trying to avoid snagging anything.
One thing that surprised me was how tight the stitches felt for the first week. Not painful exactly, just this constant awareness that something was there. I kept checking in the mirror to make sure nothing was unraveling or poking out weirdly. There were a couple times I worried maybe I’d pulled one loose by accident (chewing on the opposite side only works until you forget and take a big bite out of habit). But eventually, they started to dissolve and all that tension eased up.
I will say: waiting for them to fall out or dissolve is a patience test I wasn’t prepared for. Every day felt like an eternity, especially when food would get stuck and flossing was basically off-limits. But yeah…after a couple weeks things finally settled down and my mouth started feeling normal again.
If anybody else is stressing about those stitches or the aftertaste—totally normal (unfortunately). Just keep doing what feels comfortable and don’t be afraid to switch up your routine if something isn’t working. And hey, if you end up with a stash of cartoon toothbrushes...not really a downside in my book.
That metallic aftertaste is the worst, right? I thought I was imagining it at first, but it’s so real. Did you notice it got stronger after coffee or certain foods? For me, anything acidic just made it linger longer.
I totally relate to the toothbrush struggle. The first time I tried using my regular brush, I practically jumped out of my skin. Ended up with a soft-bristled kids’ brush too—mine had dinosaurs. Zero regrets. Honestly, why aren’t all adult brushes that gentle?
Were your stitches dissolvable? Mine took forever and I kept poking at them with my tongue, which probably didn’t help. The waiting game drove me nuts. I started using a little irrigation syringe (the kind they give after wisdom teeth removal) to gently rinse out food bits—way less stressful than trying to floss around stitches.
Did your dentist mention when you could get back to normal brushing? Mine was super vague, which made me second-guess everything. Glad things are finally feeling normal for you. That first “real” meal after the stitches go... nothing beats it.
Ended up with a soft-bristled kids’ brush too—mine had dinosaurs. Zero regrets. Honestly, why aren’t all adult brushes that gentle?
We went through the same thing with my kiddo—she picked out a unicorn brush and honestly, I think it made her less scared to brush around the stitches. Did you have trouble keeping your mouth clean those first few days? The dentist told us to avoid swishing too hard, but it felt impossible to get all the gunk out. That metallic taste drove her nuts, especially after orange juice... I started wondering if it was just in her head until I tasted it myself after a filling.
How long did it take before eating felt normal again for you? I swear, that first sandwich after stitches came out was like winning the lottery.
