"Haha, aloe gel from the fridge is a neat trick—definitely worth a shot."
Honestly, chilled aloe gel sounds pretty soothing...might have to try that next time my kiddo complains about sore gums. But I've gotta second the saltwater rinse suggestion. My daughter used to dread brushing because of sensitive gums, and we tried every fancy toothpaste and gel out there. Nothing really helped until we started doing warm saltwater rinses before bed. She hated it at first (cue dramatic gagging noises 🙄), but after a few days she admitted it actually felt better.
I think sometimes we overlook the simple stuff because it seems too basic or old-fashioned, but there's usually a reason these remedies stick around. Still, everyone's mouth is different, so if aloe gel works for you, that's awesome. Just don't write off saltwater too quickly—it might surprise you. Good luck with those gums...I know how frustrating it can be dealing with that!
"Honestly, chilled aloe gel sounds pretty soothing...might have to try that next time my kiddo complains about sore gums."
Chilled aloe gel, huh? Never thought of that one. Sounds like something I'd accidentally eat at 2 am thinking it's yogurt or something, lol. But seriously, I can see how that'd feel good—cold stuff usually helps numb things down a bit.
I've done the saltwater rinse thing too, and yeah, it does help. But man, I gotta admit, I hated every second of it. Felt like I was gargling ocean water after faceplanting at the beach. Still, can't deny it worked wonders when my gums were super sensitive after getting braces tightened.
One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is clove oil. Anyone else tried it? My orthodontist recommended it when my gums were really inflamed from new wires. It tastes kinda weird—like Christmas exploded in your mouth—but it numbs things up pretty quickly. Just gotta be careful not to overdo it because it's strong stuff. Learned that the hard way when my tongue went numb for half an hour...awkward.
Anyway, seems like everyone's gums react differently to stuff. Aloe gel sounds gentle enough to give a shot without much risk. Saltwater's reliable but tastes awful (sorry, saltwater fans). Clove oil's effective but intense. Guess it's all about finding what your mouth tolerates best.
Sensitive gums are the worst though, especially when you're already dealing with braces or aligners. Hope you find something that works soon—hang in there!
Clove oil definitely works, but man, that taste sticks with you forever. I accidentally got some on my lip once and it felt numb for hours...awkward. Aloe gel sounds way gentler—might try that next time.
Clove oil is pretty intense, right? I tried it once and ended up drooling like crazy because my whole mouth went numb, lol. Aloe gel does sound way less scary though, might give it a shot too. Has anyone here tried those numbing gels from the pharmacy aisle? I'm a bit nervous about how strong they might be...wouldn't wanna end up with another awkward numb lip situation.
I've tried those pharmacy gels before, and honestly they're way milder than clove oil—no drool fest, thankfully. Just apply a tiny bit directly on the sore spot; otherwise, your tongue and lips might join the numbness party too... learned that lesson the hard way.
