The baby toothbrush thing is honestly something I never thought I’d do either, but here we are. My dentist suggested it and I kind of rolled my eyes at first, but after the first couple days post-surgery, my regular brush just felt brutal. The baby one was way gentler and I didn’t feel like I was going to accidentally poke open a stitch or something. Still felt a little silly buying it, but whatever works, right?
I’m with you on the rinses. My dentist gave me this prescription rinse that was supposed to help with healing, but the smell alone made me nervous. I ended up just sticking with saltwater too—super basic, didn’t sting, and like you said, it’s free. I kept wondering if I was missing out on some magic healing by not using the “real” stuff, but in the end everything healed up fine. Sometimes I think they just want to throw every product at you.
I did have a few days where I was convinced something was wrong because of weird tastes or random aches. It’s hard not to spiral a bit when you’re already anxious about healing. Every time I felt a twinge, I’d Google it and freak myself out more. Looking back, most of it was just normal healing stuff.
Did you have any issues with eating? I stuck to soft foods for way longer than they told me to because I was so paranoid about messing up the stitches. Probably overkill, but better safe than sorry. Honestly, the whole thing made me realize how much overthinking can make recovery feel way more stressful than it needs to be.
Anyway... glad to hear yours healed up without any drama. Makes me feel a little less ridiculous for being so cautious about every little thing.
That’s funny, I had the same reaction to the baby toothbrush idea—felt kind of ridiculous at first, but honestly it made a huge difference. My regular one felt like sandpaper after surgery. And yeah, I totally get the paranoia with food. I lived on mashed potatoes and yogurt for way longer than necessary because I was so worried about pulling a stitch or something. Looking back, I probably could’ve eased back into normal food sooner, but it just felt safer to stick with soft stuff. Also, I think saltwater rinses are underrated—simple but effective. Glad to hear you healed up well too.
Totally agree about the saltwater rinses—they’re such a simple thing but really help keep everything clean and calm. Did you notice any swelling? Sometimes folks worry about using ice, but I find it helps if you use it in short bursts. I’m always surprised how much anxiety people have about food after this kind of surgery… but honestly, taking it slow is usually the safest bet. Ever try blending soups? That’s my go-to for those first few days.
Saltwater rinses are basically my new religion at this point—seriously, I think I used more salt in that week than I do cooking all year. About the swelling, yeah, I had a pretty impressive chipmunk situation going on for a couple days. I tried the ice thing but I always forget and end up holding it on too long, then my cheek feels like it’s about to freeze off. Short bursts probably would’ve been smarter… hindsight and all that.
Food anxiety is real. I was convinced anything thicker than a smoothie was going to rip out my stitches or something. I lived off blended soups and mashed potatoes, which, let’s be honest, got old fast. At one point I was staring at a piece of toast like it was a forbidden treasure. I did try blending up some chicken noodle soup and, uh, let’s just say texture matters. Not my finest culinary moment.
Funny thing, my dentist said I could “eat whatever feels comfortable” but that’s so vague, right? I kept googling “can I eat this after root tip surgery” every time I opened the fridge. Also, is it just me or does everyone suddenly crave crunchy stuff when you’re not allowed to have it? Tortilla chips were calling my name from the pantry.
Anyway, taking it slow is definitely the way to go, even if it gets boring. The saltwater rinse and ice combo helped, but honestly, I think just not rushing things (and lowering my food expectations) made the biggest difference. And hey, if anyone figures out how to make blended soup taste like pizza, let me know…
Totally relate to the food cravings—why does crunchy stuff sound so good when you can’t have it? I remember staring at a bag of pretzels like it was gold. I lived off yogurt and scrambled eggs for days. Saltwater rinses definitely helped, but honestly, patience was the hardest part.