Cranking the water flosser up too high is basically dental self-torture—I learned that the hard way, too. For me, the trick was starting at the lowest setting and only bumping it up once things stopped feeling so raw. Micro brushes looked goofy at first, but now I keep one in my bag for emergencies. I swear, getting food stuck around those wires is a new level of annoying. The healing does drag on, but hey, at least it’s not as scary as week one.
Totally get where you’re coming from—those first couple weeks after surgery are rough. I remember thinking the water flosser would help and then nearly jumping out of my skin from the sting. It does get easier, though. I found using a soft baby toothbrush along the gumline helped when everything else felt too harsh. And yeah, micro brushes look silly but they’re lifesavers for those stubborn bits. Hang in there, it really does get less frustrating over time.
I remember thinking the water flosser would help and then nearly jumping out of my skin from the sting.
Man, I thought I was being clever with the water flosser too—bad move. That thing turned into a mini torture device overnight. Baby toothbrushes are a good call, but did anyone else try those foam swabs? I felt like I was brushing with a marshmallow, but hey, at least it didn’t hurt. How long did it take before you could eat without flinching? I’m still on soft stuff and starting to crave real food again...
Those foam swabs are wild, right? I remember thinking, “Is this actually doing anything?” but at least I wasn’t wincing every two seconds. For me, it was about a week before I could chew on that side without feeling like I’d made a terrible life choice. I got so tired of mashed potatoes and yogurt... Ended up microwaving mac and cheese until it was basically soup just to change things up. Hang in there—it does get better, even if it feels like your menu’s stuck on ‘toddler mode’ for a bit.
I totally get what you mean about the foam swabs—first time I used one, I kept thinking, “Is this supposed to replace brushing?” but honestly, anything’s better than poking those stitches. The soft-food diet is rough though. I tried eating scrambled eggs until I couldn’t stand the sight of them. Just remember to keep rinsing gently with salt water...it feels like a hassle, but it really does help things heal faster.
