The saltwater thing really threw me for a loop too. I mean, I get that it’s supposed to help, but after a few days, I started feeling like a walking pretzel. I actually started wondering if all that rinsing was just washing away my money along with the germs. Dental stuff is already expensive enough—don’t get me started on the bill for my gum reshaping. I swear, every time I opened my mouth, I felt like I was hearing a cash register sound.
I tried to stick with the “after every meal” rule, but honestly, who has the time (or patience) for that? Plus, my mouth was getting so dry from all the salt, it felt like the Sahara in there. I eventually just did it morning and night and hoped for the best. Didn’t seem to make much difference in healing time, at least for me. Sometimes I think they give you extra instructions just to cover all their bases and make it sound more complicated than it is.
And yeah, the food cravings were real. The second my dentist said “no crunchy stuff,” all I could think about was kettle chips. It’s like telling a kid not to press a button—suddenly it’s the only thing you want to do.
Did anyone else get hit with surprise costs after gum work? My insurance covered less than I expected, and then there were these random “surgical supplies” fees tacked on. Makes you wonder if the saltwater rinse is just their way of making sure you don’t spend your last dollar on snacks instead.
That “surgical supplies” line item on the bill had me scratching my head too. What even is that—gauze and a fancy cup? My insurance barely covered half, then suddenly there’s a bunch of extra fees tacked on for who knows what. Makes you wonder if they just throw in random charges to see if you’ll notice.
I tried following the saltwater rinse directions to the letter at first, but seriously, after the third day, my mouth felt like I’d been gargling ocean water. Didn’t really see a difference in healing either. I ended up just doing it at night, mostly so I didn’t feel like I was dissolving my taste buds all day.
The food thing is so real. The minute they said “soft foods only,” all I could think about was popcorn and chips. Never wanted a carrot stick more in my life.
Did anyone else get told you’d be fine in a week, but then two weeks later your gums still felt off? Starting to think these timelines are wishful thinking.
I totally get the frustration with those random charges—sometimes it feels like they just tack stuff on because they can. As for healing, my gums took way longer than the “one week” they promised. I’d say it was closer to 2-3 weeks before things stopped feeling weird. Saltwater rinses helped a bit, but yeah, doing them all day just made me dread brushing my teeth. The soft food struggle is real... mashed potatoes got old fast.
Saltwater rinses helped a bit, but yeah, doing them all day just made me dread brushing my teeth.
I completely relate to that—those rinses get old fast. I remember being told the same “one week” recovery estimate, but mine dragged on for nearly a month before things felt normal. The soft food diet was rough... I ended up rotating in scrambled eggs and yogurt just to break up the monotony. Hang in there, it does get better, even if it’s not as quick as they say.
Yeah, the “one week” thing is so misleading. I was told the same, but it honestly took me closer to three weeks before I could chew anything tougher than mashed potatoes. The saltwater rinses were such a drag—by day four, I started dreading them more than the actual brushing too. Did anyone else have issues with weird taste or sensitivity? For me, even gentle toothpaste stung for a while.
I’m curious, did your dentist give you any tips for speeding things up, or was it just the standard “wait and see”? I kept wondering if I was healing slower than normal or if that’s just how it goes for most people. Also, how strict were you with the soft food thing? I caved and tried toast one day... definitely regretted that.
