I get where you’re coming from—having something buzzing near your jaw after surgery sounds a little nerve-wracking. I’ve had patients mention using TENS for neck or shoulder pain, but I haven’t actually seen anyone use it close to the mouth yet. My main worry is always about accidentally aggravating the nerves or causing more swelling. The gel shouldn’t sting unless there’s an open sore, but everyone’s skin reacts differently... I’m curious, has anyone tried other non-medication options for that deep ache? Something like ice packs or maybe those topical numbing gels? Just wondering if people have found those helpful or if they just mask the pain for a bit.
The gel shouldn’t sting unless there’s an open sore, but everyone’s skin reacts differently...
Had a patient try one of those numbing gels after surgery—said it felt like putting toothpaste on a sunburn. Not exactly the soothing effect they hoped for. Anyone ever try those microwavable heat packs instead of ice? I always wonder if heat helps or just makes things puff up more...
Tried both ice and those microwave heat packs after my wisdom teeth came out (on a tight budget, so I got the cheap ones from the pharmacy). For me, ice felt numbing but made my jaw ache after a while. Heat was kinda comforting at first, but honestly, it seemed to make my face swell up more if I used it too soon. If you’re watching costs, a bag of frozen peas works just as well as fancy gel packs... and you can eat them later.
I totally get what you mean about the ice packs—after my root tip surgery, I used a bag of corn because it was all I had, and honestly, it worked just fine. I’ve heard mixed things about heat though... some people swear by it, but my dentist actually warned me to avoid it for the first couple days. Did anyone try those menthol patches or like, topical gels? Curious if they’re worth the money or just another gimmick.
Did anyone try those menthol patches or like, topical gels? Curious if they’re worth the money or just another gimmick.
I actually tried one of those menthol patches after my last extraction. Honestly, it felt nice for about 10 minutes but then just got kind of sticky and annoying. Ice packs (or corn, haha) worked better for me in the long run. Never really noticed much pain relief from the gels either, except maybe a little numbing at first.
