Salt water rinses were my lifesaver too. I was pretty anxious about the whole healing process (first time dealing with anything like this), but my dentist explained step-by-step why salt water is actually ideal. Apparently, it gently cleans the area without disrupting the delicate healing tissue, unlike some harsher antiseptic mouthwashes that can irritate or dry things out. Plus, it's cheap and easy to make at home—just a pinch of salt in warm water, swish gently, and you're good.
I also second the yogurt suggestion. Greek yogurt was great because it has probiotics, which can help maintain a healthy balance in your mouth while you're healing. Honey's antibacterial properties are a nice bonus too. I remember being worried about infection, so knowing these little details helped ease my mind a bit.
Hang in there—it sounds like you're doing everything right. Healing takes patience, but you'll get there soon enough.
Salt water rinses really are underrated. My dentist recommended the same thing after my procedure, and I was skeptical at first because it seemed too simple (and honestly, too cheap!), but it genuinely made a noticeable difference. I was tempted to buy some fancy antiseptic rinse from the pharmacy—thinking more expensive must be better—but he explained how those could irritate the wound or slow things down. Glad I stuck with salt water.
I didn't try yogurt, but I did lean heavily on soft scrambled eggs and mashed potatoes. Comfort food definitely helped ease my nerves a bit. Wish I'd known about the honey trick though...sounds like a tasty bonus!
The hardest part for me was just not knowing exactly what was "normal." Every little twinge or sensation had me convinced something was wrong. But you're right, patience really is key. Sounds like you're handling it way better than I did, haha.
Totally relate to the anxiety about what's "normal"...I remember googling every weird sensation after my orthodontic surgery and convincing myself I was doomed, lol. Salt water rinses were a lifesaver for me too—simple but effective. Wish I'd known about honey though, sounds way better than the bland oatmeal I lived on for days. You're doing great, hang in there! It really does get easier each day.
"Salt water rinses were a lifesaver for me too—simple but effective."
Definitely agree with this. Did your dentist recommend any anti-inflammatory rinses like chlorhexidine? My kid had an apicoectomy last year, and that seemed to speed up healing quite a bit...might be worth asking about.
"Did your dentist recommend any anti-inflammatory rinses like chlorhexidine?"
Yeah, chlorhexidine helped me a lot too. My dentist suggested it after my apicoectomy, but she warned me not to overdo it since it can stain your teeth a bit if you use it too long. I alternated between that and salt water rinses, and honestly, the combo seemed to speed things up nicely. Just something to keep in mind if you decide to give it a try...
