That metallic taste is honestly the worst part for me too. It lingered for almost three weeks, and I kept second-guessing if it was normal. My dentist mentioned it’s likely from the blood or maybe the meds, but I also noticed food tasted really bland—almost like my taste buds just gave up for a bit. Energy-wise, I was wiped out for days, which I totally didn’t expect. It’s weird how much a dental procedure can throw you off balance.
That metallic taste thing really threw me for a loop too, but I was dealing with it on behalf of my kiddo after her root tip surgery. She kept saying everything tasted like she’d licked a spoon that’d been sitting in a toolbox—her words, not mine. I started getting paranoid about whether it was normal, or if we’d missed some kind of infection or something. It’s tough when you’re just watching from the sidelines and can’t really “fix” it.
Her appetite tanked for about a week, which made me worry even more. I was texting our dentist every few days, probably driving them up the wall, but they kept reassuring me that the weird taste and tiredness were part of the healing process. Still, I definitely didn’t expect it to zap her energy like that. She’s usually bouncing off the walls, but suddenly she just wanted to nap and watch cartoons... and honestly, I started wondering if I’d need to cancel more days at work.
I do think the bland food thing is underrated—she acted like everything I made tasted like cardboard, and I’m no gourmet chef but come on! Once the taste buds started coming back (I think around week two), she perked up a bit. We stuck to soft foods and lots of smoothies, mostly because I was nervous she’d bite her cheek or mess up the stitches.
It took about three weeks for her to feel “herself” again, give or take. The fatigue lingered longer than I thought it would. If anyone else is reading this and feeling freaked out by how long recovery drags on, you’re not alone. Dental stuff seems minor until you’re actually living through it… then suddenly it’s all you can think about.
I wish there was a magic way to speed up the process, but patience (and maybe a few extra cartoons) seemed to be the best medicine for us.
That metallic taste is the worst, right? I remember thinking I’d never enjoy food again after my surgery. Did your kid ever complain about jaw pain too, or was it mostly the taste and tiredness? Mine had both and it made her extra grumpy.
