That “one week” recovery timeline is honestly laughable. I remember looking at the calendar, thinking I’d be back to normal meals in a few days, but it was almost three weeks before I could even think about biting into something like a bagel. Mashed potatoes and soup basically became my entire diet. I tried to be really strict with the soft foods because I was terrified of messing up the healing, but I did try a scrambled egg sandwich one day and immediately regretted it—chewing was so uncomfortable and I got super anxious I’d set myself back.
The saltwater rinses were the worst part for me too. After a few days, it felt like my mouth was constantly salty and raw, and honestly, I started dreading them more than brushing. I did notice a weird metallic taste for a while, which my dentist said was pretty normal, but it made everything taste off. Even toothpaste—especially the “whitening” kind—stung like crazy. I switched to a super mild kids’ toothpaste for a bit, which helped with the burning.
My dentist didn’t really offer much beyond “just keep it clean and be patient.” I kept asking if there was anything else I could do to speed things up, but they were pretty firm about not rushing the process. I was worried I was healing slower than everyone else, but it sounds like three weeks isn’t that unusual. Honestly, the anxiety about messing something up probably made me more cautious than necessary… but better safe than sorry, right?
I do wonder if some people just heal faster or if dentists are just being overly optimistic with those timelines. Either way, I definitely wouldn’t recommend toast or anything remotely crunchy until you’re absolutely sure you’re ready. That regret is real.
Yeah, those “just one week” promises are a joke. My kid had gum reshaping last year and it was all soft foods and smoothies for at least two weeks—anything more solid was a no-go. I totally get the anxiety about messing up the healing. The dentist kept saying not to stress, but when you’re watching your kid try to eat applesauce for the tenth time, you start questioning everything. Saltwater rinses were a battle too… we ended up using a little medicine cup so it didn’t feel like such a chore. I honestly think dentists forget how slow this process feels when you’re living it.
Completely agree about the timeline—dentists always make it sound like a breeze, but in real life it just drags. We had to budget for extra groceries because my daughter only wanted certain yogurts and those protein shakes aren’t cheap if you need them every day. Saltwater rinses were a struggle here too; I ended up making a chart just to keep track. Not sure why they downplay the hassle, honestly... I think being upfront about how long recovery *really* takes would help people plan better, especially if money’s tight.
That protein shake thing is real—my jaw got so tired of sweet stuff, but everything else hurt to chew. I actually found mashed potatoes were a lifesaver, but yeah, the extra grocery bill surprised me. Did your daughter have any foods she totally refused?
Funny you mention mashed potatoes—I've seen a lot of folks swear by them, but sometimes I find they can get kind of bland after a few days. I usually suggest mixing in some plain Greek yogurt or even a bit of soft scrambled egg for protein, since shakes get old fast. Not everyone loves the texture, though. One patient told me her daughter flat-out refused anything remotely mushy, so they ended up blending soups and sneaking in tiny pasta shapes. It’s wild how picky taste buds can get when you’re healing. And yeah, those grocery bills...nobody warns you about that part.
