- 100% agree on the tingling and numbness. I had that “asleep” feeling for ages after my gum surgery too—kept poking it with my tongue, which probably didn’t help.
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— totally relate. I used a baby toothbrush for weeks, even past when things looked normal.Switching back to my regular brush felt like using a power tool on delicate tissue
- Saltwater rinses helped me feel cleaner without the harshness of mouthwash. Didn’t burn, just felt soothing.
- Honestly, tracking every little change made me anxious, so I tried to check only once a day. Easier said than done, though.
- It does get better. Just takes more patience than anyone wants.
Saltwater rinses helped me feel cleaner without the harshness of mouthwash. Didn’t burn, just felt soothing.
I know saltwater rinses are super popular after surgery, but honestly, I found them a bit overrated. They didn’t really make my mouth feel that clean—just kind of bland? I actually switched to an alcohol-free mouthwash after a week and it was way more refreshing. No sting, and my breath felt better too. Everyone’s different though... maybe my tolerance is weird.
They didn’t really make my mouth feel that clean—just kind of bland?
Totally get what you mean. I tried saltwater after getting my braces tightened and it just felt like... salty water. The alcohol-free mouthwash was a game changer for me too, way less boring. Hang in there—healing mouths are weird.
Honestly, I’ve never really noticed a huge difference after using alcohol-free mouthwash versus saltwater. For me, saltwater rinses always seemed to help more with swelling and soreness, even if they don’t leave that “minty clean” feeling. The mouthwash is nice for the taste, but I’m not convinced it actually cleans any better—maybe just masks things a bit? After my apicoectomy, my oral surgeon was super insistent on saltwater only, at least for the first week. I get why people want something that feels fresher, but sometimes the boring stuff works best for healing.
I did try one of those “natural” mouthwashes once and it stung way more than I expected. Not sure if it helped or just made my gums angrier. Healing mouths are definitely weird... but I guess plain old saltwater is still my go-to, even if it’s not exciting.
I get what you mean about saltwater, but I actually felt cleaner with the alcohol-free mouthwash, even if my surgeon said to avoid it early on. Maybe it’s just in my head, but the taste made me feel like I was doing something extra. Saltwater always seemed a bit harsh for me—sometimes it made my mouth feel drier, which I didn’t love. I tried to stick with the saltwater after surgery, but honestly, I switched back to mouthwash sooner than they recommended. Didn’t notice any problems, but I was a little worried I’d mess up the healing.
The “natural” ones are weird for me too. Once I bought one with tea tree oil and it burned way more than Listerine ever did... never again. I guess everyone’s mouth reacts differently. For me, a gentle mouthwash just feels more reassuring, even if it’s not what the dentist says is best. Maybe I’m just too anxious about infection or something going wrong.
