Medicated gel, huh? I’ll admit, I was a little skeptical at first—felt like one of those “newfangled” things you see on TV at 2 a.m. But after my last root tip surgery, I caved and tried it. Gotta say, it did take the edge off at night, which is when the throbbing really loves to kick in. Saltwater rinses have been my go-to for years, but sometimes I feel like they’re just not enough when you’re trying to sleep and every tiny ache feels like a marching band in your mouth.
I’m with you on the price—sure, it’s a few bucks more, but if it means I can actually get some rest, I’ll pay it. Maybe it’s a mind-over-matter thing, but honestly, I’ll take whatever works at this point. My dentist always says “whatever keeps you comfortable,” and at my age, comfort wins. Funny how dental stuff used to be all about toughing it out, but now I’m all for the gentle approach.
That’s interesting you mention the nighttime pain—seems like that’s when most folks really notice it. I’ve seen a lot of people get good relief from those gels, but a few say it just numbs things for a while. Did you notice any weird taste or sensitivity after using it? Sometimes folks mention that as a trade-off. Just curious how it compared to the saltwater rinse for you.
Nighttime is always the worst for me too—maybe it’s just that there’s nothing to distract you from the pain when you’re trying to sleep. I’ve tried a couple of those numbing gels after my own root tip surgery, and honestly, the taste was... not great. Kind of bitter, almost metallic? It lingered for a while, and sometimes I’d get this weird tingling on my tongue. Not painful, just odd. I did notice it worked fast, but like you said, it wore off pretty quick and I’d be back to square one by the time I wanted to actually sleep.
Saltwater rinse was a different story. Didn’t do much for the pain itself, but it felt soothing and seemed to help with swelling. Plus, no aftertaste—just that salty flavor, which I honestly prefer over the artificial taste of the gel. I’ve read that some folks get sensitivity from the gels, especially if they use them a lot, but I never had that issue. Maybe it’s just luck, or maybe I didn’t use enough for it to be a problem.
One thing I’ve always wondered—is there any real difference between the over-the-counter gels and the ones dentists give you? Or is it all just branding? My dentist gave me a sample that seemed to last a bit longer, but it could’ve just been wishful thinking on my part.
Curious if anyone else has had issues with the gels making their mouth feel numb in places they didn’t expect? I once accidentally got some on my lip and it was numb for ages. Definitely not the most pleasant feeling, but better than throbbing pain, I guess.
That metallic taste from the gels is just... yikes. I’m always so paranoid about getting it anywhere except the actual sore spot—one time I got a bit on my cheek and half my face felt like it belonged to someone else for an hour. Honestly, I wish there was something that lasted longer but didn’t make me worry about accidentally numbing my whole mouth. I tried a dentist sample too and swore it worked better, but maybe that’s just the “official” label making me hopeful. Nighttime is the worst, though. I keep thinking I’ll wake up and it’ll finally be gone, but nope—right back to square one.
I’m always so paranoid about getting it anywhere except the actual sore spot—one time I got a bit on my cheek and half my face felt like it belonged to someone else for an hour.
That’s exactly what I’m worried about—I haven’t even tried the gel yet because I’m scared I’ll mess it up and end up drooling or something. Did you find it made eating or drinking weird after? Also, is it normal for the pain to come back at night even if you use the gel? I feel like I’m doing something wrong or maybe just too anxious about it...
