That sensation drove me nuts after my wisdom teeth came out—like my face was made of rubber bands. I’ve tried those numbing rinses, but honestly, ice packs did more for me in the end. Sometimes old-school comfort just works better than the latest thing.
That rubber band feeling is exactly what I'm worried about—I get anxious just thinking about it. I'm supposed to get my root tip surgery next week and honestly, I'm not sure what'll help the most. Did you find the ice packs worked right away or did it take a while? I've seen people mention those medicated gels too, but I don't know if they're worth it or just hype.
That rubber band sensation drove me nuts too—totally get where you're coming from. Ice packs helped me most in the first couple hours, but honestly, it took repeated use before I noticed real relief. The medicated gels felt kind of gimmicky for me, but I know some folks swear by them. I mostly stuck with ice and over-the-counter pain meds, and just tried to distract myself with TV. The anticipation was honestly worse than the recovery.
That “rubber band” feeling is the worst, isn’t it? I tried one of those fancy gels too—felt like I smeared toothpaste on my gum for nothing. Ice and a little daytime TV did more for me than any miracle cream. I swear, Netflix should be covered by insurance after dental work...
Ice and a little daytime TV did more for me than any miracle cream.
Honestly, I’m right there with you. After my root tip surgery, the “rubber band” tightness was brutal for a couple days, and none of those numbing gels really helped much. I tried Orajel and some generic stuff—felt like they just made my tongue tingle and that’s about it. Ice packs were my main go-to, but I also found that keeping my head elevated at night made a difference. Less throbbing in the morning.
I did get prescribed a non-NSAID painkiller since I can’t take ibuprofen, and that helped take the edge off. But honestly, nothing replaced just zoning out with a show for a few hours. You’re right about Netflix—if only insurance would throw in a free month after oral surgery...
One thing my surgeon suggested was rinsing gently with warm salt water after 24 hours. It didn’t kill the pain, but it helped with the soreness and swelling for sure. Gels? Overrated, in my experience.
