What’s your go-to after jaw surgery: wax, salt water, or just toughing it out?

Wax was a disaster for me - kept peeling off and then I’d panic thinking I’d swallowed it. Salt water rinses were my lifeline, honestly. I tried popsicles too, but the cold just made my jaw ache more. Ibuprofen helped, but I was always worried about overdoing it. I never really “toughed it out” because I’m a wimp with mouth pain... I’d say salt water is the way to go, just don’t get lazy about it. And yeah, alcohol mouthwash is pure torture - learned that the hard way.

I swear, wax is like trying to stick a Post-it on a wet window - never stayed put for me either. Salt water was my MVP too, even though I got lazy a couple times and instantly regretted it. Popsicles just made my teeth feel like icicles... not worth it. And yeah, alcohol mouthwash is basically liquid regret.

wax is like trying to stick a Post-it on a wet window - never stayed put for me either.

That’s exactly how I felt about wax, too. I tried every trick - drying things off, warming it up, even pressing it in with a spoon once (don’t ask) - and it just slid right off as soon as I started talking. Salt water, though, that’s the unsung hero. Even when I was tired and thought “eh, I’ll skip it tonight,” I’d wake up regretting it. The healing just wasn’t the same without it.

Popsicles, I wanted to love them, but you nailed it - my teeth felt like they were being punished for something. As for the alcohol mouthwash, I learned the hard way. One rinse and my gums felt like they were on fire. Switched to an alcohol-free one and never looked back.

Honestly, the only thing that got me through was patience and salt water. Wax was more trouble than it was worth, at least for me. Sometimes you just have to find what annoys you least and stick with it.

Honestly, the only thing that got me through was patience and salt water. Wax was more trouble than it was worth, at least for me.

Interesting you mention salt water - my surgeon recommended it too, but I wasn’t sure if it actually helped or just felt soothing. Did you notice faster healing, or was it more about comfort? I tried wax a couple of times and had the same issue, just a mess. I’m curious if anyone’s dentist suggested any alternative barrier methods besides wax?

I always wondered if salt water was just a placebo, but honestly, my stitches felt less angry after a few days of swishing. Wax never stayed put for me either - plus, it tasted weird. Has anyone ever tried silicone covers instead? I heard about them but never gave it a shot.

Salt water always sounded too simple to actually do anything, but I swear it helped me too - maybe it’s just the gentle rinsing? Either way, my gums felt way less cranky after a few days. Wax was a disaster for me, honestly. I’d finally get it on, then it’d fall off mid-sentence or just dissolve into this weird, gritty mess. Plus, I never got used to the taste... like chewing on a candle.

I did try those silicone covers once, though. They’re a bit trickier to find, but they actually stayed put way better than the wax. Didn’t taste like much either, which was a win. Only downside for me was that they felt a little bulkier, but I’ll take that over stabbing wires any day. If you can get your hands on them, they might be worth a shot, especially if you’re tired of playing “find the wax” every time you eat.

I get what you mean about the wax - mine always seemed to disappear right when I needed it most, and the texture was just... weird. But I’m actually surprised you found the silicone covers bulkier. For me, they felt kind of less noticeable after a while, maybe because they didn’t break apart like wax does? I guess it depends on the brand or maybe how much you use at a time.

About salt water, though - I’m still a little skeptical.

“Salt water always sounded too simple to actually do anything, but I swear it helped me too - maybe it’s just the gentle rinsing?”

I’ve also heard some people just tough it out and skip all the covers, but that sounds brutal. Not sure how anyone manages with those wires poking around. Maybe my pain tolerance is just low, but I’ll take a slightly awkward silicone blob over raw cheeks any day.

Totally agree about the covers - no way I could just “tough it out.” Tried that for half a day and instantly regretted it. My cheeks were shredded. Honestly, chlorhexidine was a game changer for me too, but I always worried about staining my teeth. Salt water felt like it helped, but maybe that’s just psychological? Either way, I’ll take anything over raw wire pokes... my pain tolerance is basically nonexistent.

Man, I hear you on the raw wire pokes - felt like my cheeks were in a blender. I tried “toughing it out” for about an hour and immediately ran for the wax. I get nervous about chlorhexidine too, but honestly, salt water just feels less scary. Maybe it’s placebo, but hey, if it works, it works, right?

Totally get the salt water thing - it just feels safer, and honestly, it helped my stitches heal faster too. I never really trusted the mouthwashes with the long ingredient lists... Did you notice any difference in swelling or healing speed when you used salt water?

Yeah, salt water rinses made a noticeable difference for me - less puffiness and the stitches felt less irritated. I tried one of those fancy mouthwashes once, but it just made everything sting, plus I couldn't pronounce half the stuff in it. Did you ever get that weird "tight" feeling after using salt water? For me, it faded pretty quick and was way easier to deal with than the chemical taste from store-bought rinses.

Funny, I actually found the opposite - salt water felt harsher for me than the store-bought stuff. I’d get that tight, almost dry sensation and it stuck around for a while. Ended up switching to a super mild, alcohol-free rinse my surgeon recommended (I checked every ingredient just in case). Did you ever try using wax on your braces or stitches? That was a game-changer for me when everything felt sharp or scratchy. Maybe it’s just personal chemistry, but salt water never quite did the trick for me.

Maybe it’s just personal chemistry, but salt water never quite did the trick for me.

Right there with you - salt water always made my mouth feel like the Sahara. I tried to save a few bucks with DIY rinses, but ended up caving for the gentle store stuff too. Wax is a lifesaver when you’re on a budget and everything’s poking at you. Glad you found what works... sometimes cheap isn’t worth the sting.

Wax is a lifesaver when you’re on a budget and everything’s poking at you.

Couldn’t agree more - wax was my MVP after brackets started rubbing raw spots. I tried salt water, but honestly, it just made my mouth feel weirdly dry. Did anyone else get that weird metallic taste from some rinses, or was that just me?

Yeah, I totally get you on the weird taste thing. I used one of those blue mouth rinses after my surgery and it left my mouth tasting like I chewed on pennies. Wax was my go-to too - especially when the stitches were still fresh and everything felt super sensitive. Tried toughing it out once, but nope, not worth it. Salt water just made my lips feel all cracked. Guess everyone’s mouth reacts a bit different...

Salt water just made my lips feel all cracked. Guess everyone’s mouth reacts a bit different...

Man, I hear you on the salt water - felt like it dried me out way more than it helped. I was all about the wax too, especially when the hardware was rubbing right after surgery. Kinda curious, did anyone mess with those silicone covers instead of the regular wax? I saw some folks online saying they’re less messy, but I never tried ‘em. Wondering if it’s worth the switch or just marketing hype...

Yeah, salt water rinses always left my mouth feeling like sandpaper, especially in those first couple weeks. I stuck with the wax for a while, but it did get all mushy and sometimes just fell off. Tried those silicone covers once - honestly, they were a bit firmer and stayed put better, but I found them harder to mold around the brackets. Maybe it’s just personal preference, but for me, the old-school wax was easier to deal with, even if it was messier.

Tried those silicone covers once - honestly, they were a bit firmer and stayed put better, but I found them harder to mold around the brackets.

Totally get what you mean about the silicone covers. I had this epic struggle trying to squish them into place and ended up with more on my fingers than my braces. Wax was messy, sure, but at least it didn’t require a degree in engineering to use. Salt water rinses just made me feel like I’d gargled the ocean... not exactly soothing. For me, a combo of wax and occasional ibuprofen did the trick, even if I looked like I was chewing bubblegum half the time.

Yeah, those silicone covers are just not it for me either - felt like I needed three hands to get them on right. Wax is messy, but at least you can slap it on and move on with your day. Ibuprofen was my lifeline too, especially those first few weeks. Salt water rinses never did much for me except make everything taste weird. Honestly, I just stuck with what was easiest, even if it wasn’t perfect.