Sometimes the basics really do the trick, even if you’re second-guessing yourself the whole time.
Totally relate—I was convinced I’d mess something up if I didn’t buy the “ultra-healing” mouthwash. Ended up with saltwater too, and honestly, zero regrets (except maybe for the taste). My paranoia peaked every time I looked in the mirror... but yeah, basics worked fine. Why do we always think we need the fancy stuff?
I’m with you—there’s so much pressure to buy the “miracle” rinse or whatever, but honestly, the saltwater routine felt almost too simple. I kept thinking I must be missing something, but my gums healed up fine. Funny how the basics get overlooked. My ortho actually warned me that some of the fancier mouthwashes can dry things out or irritate healing tissue, which blew my mind a bit. Guess sometimes less really is more, even if it tastes like the ocean for a week.
Guess sometimes less really is more, even if it tastes like the ocean for a week.
I totally get what you mean about the “ocean” taste—honestly, I started craving fries just to balance it out. Did your ortho mention anything about how long to stick with the saltwater? Mine was kind of vague, which made me second-guess if I was overdoing it.
That "ocean" taste is no joke—my mouth felt like a tidepool for days after my gum contouring. I get why they recommend the saltwater, but honestly, after the third rinse I started wondering if I was just pickling my gums. My periodontist said twice a day for a week, but then I read somewhere else that too much can actually dry things out or irritate the tissue. It's frustrating how vague some of these instructions are.
I ended up dialing it back to once a day after the first few days, and honestly, I healed just fine. Maybe it's overkill to keep rinsing if your gums aren't actively bleeding or sore. I do think there's something to be said for moderation—our mouths are surprisingly good at healing if we don't mess with them too much.
Funny enough, I found myself craving crunchy stuff like pretzels, but of course, that's exactly what you're not supposed to eat. It’s always the forbidden snacks that sound best...
