Clove oil is wild, right? I tried it too and honestly, it stung so much I wondered if I’d made things worse. For me, the salt water rinse was actually more soothing, even if it didn’t numb things. I ended up using a cold compress on my cheek, which helped dull the ache a bit. I know everyone swears by clove oil, but I’m not totally convinced it’s worth the burn. Anyone else feel like ice packs are underrated for this?
Clove oil really is intense—it feels like it’s working overtime, but sometimes I think it’s just distracting me from the actual pain with a different kind of pain. I’m with you on the salt water rinse being more gentle. Ice packs are totally underrated, honestly. The cold numbs things just enough to take the edge off, and you don’t have to deal with that weird clove taste lingering for hours. I even wrapped some frozen peas in a towel once... not glamorous, but desperate times, right?
Ice packs are totally underrated, honestly. The cold numbs things just enough to take the edge off, and you don’t have to deal with that weird clove taste lingering for hours.
Right? I tried clove oil exactly once and it was like my mouth was on fire, but not in a good way. Ice pack (or, yeah, frozen peas) is way less dramatic. Salt water rinse is my go-to, though... feels kind of old-school but actually helps me calm down. Still a bit nervous every time I eat—paranoid I’ll mess up the healing. Anyone else get super anxious about that?
Yeah, the anxiety is real. My kid had one last year and I was hovering over every meal like a hawk, worried she’d mess up the clot. We stuck with soft foods—applesauce, yogurt, even mashed potatoes for days. Honestly, I was more stressed than she was. Ice packs were a lifesaver, but salt water rinses after every snack helped her relax too. Skipped the clove oil after one sniff... couldn’t handle that smell. It’s tough not to worry, but it gets easier once you see some healing.
That “hovering over every meal” feeling is so familiar. I’ve seen so many parents get more anxious than the kids themselves—it’s totally normal to worry about that clot. I remember one teen patient who just wanted pizza after a few days, and I had to gently remind her that mashed potatoes were her best friend for a bit longer. Ice packs really do help, and honestly, salt water rinses are underrated for comfort. Funny about the clove oil—most people can’t stand that smell, you’re not alone there. It does get easier once you see that first bit of healing, for sure.
