Yeah, I totally get what you mean about the “special” products.
I felt the same way—spent too much on fancy rinses and gels that didn’t do much except make my mouth taste weird. Ice and keeping my head propped up at night actually made the biggest difference for me too.Honestly, I was a bit let down by how little the “special” products did. Sometimes the old-school stuff just works better, even if it’s not glamorous.
Also, I learned the hard way about straws... dry socket is no joke. It’s wild how everyone’s recovery is so different. For me, patience (and Netflix) helped more than anything else.
I’m right there with you on the “special” stuff. I got talked into one of those pricey mouthwashes that claimed to speed up healing—honestly, it just tasted like medicine and didn’t do much. Ended up sticking with salt water rinses my grandma swore by and, weirdly enough, popsicles (cheap and soothing). The whole straw thing tripped me up too... took one sip and regretted it immediately. Seems like the basics—ice, rest, and patience—are underrated.
You nailed it with the basics. Salt water rinses are still my go-to recommendation, honestly. Most of those fancy rinses just numb your tongue and lighten your wallet. Popsicles are underrated—anything cold helps with swelling. And the straw thing... yeah, that’s a classic pitfall.
