I totally get your hesitation about chlorhexidine. After my apicoectomy, my dentist handed me a bottle of that stuff like it was liquid gold, and I thought, "Great, now my teeth will match my coffee mug." 😂 Honestly though, staining wasn't the worst part for me—it was the weird burning sensation I got after using it a few days in a row. Felt like I'd just eaten a bag of sour candies or something. I ended up switching to a saltwater rinse (boring, I know) and it did the trick without the irritation.
But everyone's mouth is different, right? My sister used chlorhexidine after her wisdom teeth removal and had zero issues—no staining, no sensitivity, nothing. Lucky her. If you're cautious about new products post-surgery (and who wouldn't be?), maybe try it sparingly at first to see how your gums react. Either way, hang in there...the post-apicoectomy life gets easier, promise.
Ugh, chlorhexidine was rough for me too. I didn't get the staining (thankfully), but my gums felt super raw and sensitive after just a couple days. Saltwater rinses were my go-to as well—boring, yeah, but at least predictable and gentle. Honestly, after surgery, I was anxious about trying anything new...didn't want to risk messing things up. Glad to hear it gets easier eventually, though.
Interesting, chlorhexidine wasn't too harsh for me personally, though I did notice a weird aftertaste that lingered. Did you try diluting it slightly? My dentist suggested that, and it seemed to help reduce irritation without compromising effectiveness...might be worth considering next time.
Chlorhexidine can indeed be tricky—I experienced similar issues with the lingering aftertaste, though irritation wasn't a major problem for me either. Diluting it slightly was also recommended by my dentist, and I found it helpful as well. Another thing that worked for me was rinsing gently with plain water afterward to minimize the taste...might be worth trying if you haven't already. Glad you're finding ways to manage the discomfort; recovery after an apicoectomy can definitely test one's patience.
I had the same issue with the aftertaste—definitely not pleasant. Diluting helped me too, but another thing that made a difference (and was budget-friendly!) was using a mild saltwater rinse right after. My dentist said it was fine as long as I waited a bit between them. Honestly, recovery from an apicoectomy is just one of those things that takes time and patience...hang in there, it'll get easier soon.
