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

The vanishing wax thing is honestly such a weird feeling - I totally get what you mean. I always wondered if I was just imagining it or if it really does dissolve that fast. My ortho once told me it’s not a big deal if you swallow a little, but that didn’t exactly put my mind at ease either. The salt water rinse felt like a double-edged sword for me: helpful, but man, the dryness after a few days was brutal. I’d sometimes try to alternate between salt water and just plain water rinses, hoping it would balance things out.

I’m curious - did anyone ever mention using anything besides wax for comfort? I heard someone talk about silicone strips once, but I never actually tried them. Part of me wonders if those would’ve been less “melty” in the mouth. Also, did your surgeon or ortho give any tips about managing that constant dry-mouth feeling? It seems like everyone has their own hack for getting through those first couple weeks.

I actually tried the silicone strips once - honestly, they were pricier than wax and didn’t stick as well for me. I get the appeal, but I just couldn’t justify the extra cost since I kept having to replace them. For dryness, my ortho suggested sugar-free gum, but chewing was a no-go post-surgery... ended up just sipping water constantly and keeping a cheap humidifier by my bed. Not perfect, but it helped a bit.

The silicone strips didn’t really do it for me, either. I found them sliding around more than wax, especially when I was talking or eating soft foods. The price point is definitely a factor - when you’re already shelling out for surgery and meds, every little bit adds up. Wax is messier but it’s cheap, and I could sort of mold it around the brackets where things were rubbing the worst.

Sugar-free gum is a classic ortho recommendation for dry mouth, but yeah, after jaw surgery there’s just no way. My surgeon was pretty adamant about avoiding any chewing until the bone had started to heal, so that was off the table for weeks. The constant water sipping feels like a full-time job at first. I actually kept a stainless steel straw by my bed to make it easier at night - less mess if you’re half-asleep and groggy.

The humidifier trick is underrated. My ENT suggested it, and while it didn’t completely solve the dry mouth, it made mornings less miserable. I’d still wake up with that desert feeling sometimes, but not as bad as before. If you’re dealing with congestion from anesthesia or pain meds, the extra moisture can help your sinuses too.

Salt water rinses were another staple for me. They don’t taste great, but they’re gentle enough not to sting, and my stitches healed up without getting irritated. I did notice if I skipped a day, my mouth felt more sore - maybe placebo effect, but worth mentioning.

It’s wild how much trial and error goes into finding what works post-surgery. Nothing’s perfect, but cobbling together a few of these little tricks made things tolerable. Still haven’t found anything that beats plain old patience and time for the weird tightness and dryness, though...

That line about water sipping being a “full-time job”

The constant water sipping feels like a full-time job at first.

I was super nervous about using salt water rinses at first. I thought it would sting or mess with the stitches, but you’re right - they’re surprisingly gentle. Still, I can’t tell if they actually help or if it’s just the act of doing something that makes me feel less anxious about healing.

I haven’t tried the humidifier thing yet. My mom keeps telling me to set one up in my room, but I keep putting it off because I’m worried it’ll make everything feel damp and gross? Maybe worth a shot though since mornings are the worst for dryness.

It really does feel like there’s no magic fix - just a bunch of weird little routines and hoping each day gets easier.

The water bottle thing is a rite of passage, honestly. I tell people after jaw surgery, you basically become a hydration cyborg - can’t leave home without your “attachment.” Wax and silicone are both kind of a gamble, especially if you’re drooling a lot (which is totally normal, by the way). I’ve seen folks swear by wax, but for me, it always ended up somewhere in my sandwich. As for salt water rinses, you nailed it - they don’t sting, and they actually do help keep things clean, even if it feels like a weird spa treatment for your mouth.

The humidifier is worth a try. It’s not as gross as you’d think unless you’re running it on high in a closet. Mornings with a dry mouth are brutal, and anything that helps you wake up less like a lizard is a win. There’s no one-size-fits-all, but if you find a routine that doesn’t make you miserable, stick with it.

I tried wax for a bit but it just kept sliding off - especially with all the extra drool. Salt water rinses worked way better for me, but honestly, I just toughed it out most days. Anyone else have issues with wax sticking?

Wax never really worked for me either, but I think I might’ve had the opposite problem - mine would stick too well and then I’d end up biting into a chunk of it later without realizing. Kind of gross. The drool situation was real though, especially that first week. I found that switching brands made a difference. Some are softer and just melt away, but others actually stayed put even with all the extra saliva. Salt water rinses helped with soreness, but didn’t do much for the actual sharp spots. Guess everyone’s mouth is a little different...

My kid just had jaw surgery a couple months ago, and honestly, I’m still not sure we’ve figured out the best way to handle all the irritation. We went through a few different wax brands too - some were so sticky they’d just clump up, and then she’d accidentally swallow bits of it, which really bothered me. The drooling was a whole thing at our house for a while, especially overnight.

Salt water rinses seemed gentle enough, but like you said, they never really helped with the sharp edges from the brackets. I kept worrying about infection, so we stuck with the rinses anyway, just in case. I’ve wondered if anyone’s tried those silicone covers instead of regular wax? I read somewhere they’re less likely to fall apart, but I’m nervous about introducing something new when her mouth is still healing. Did you notice any difference in healing time depending on what you used, or was it just about comfort? Sometimes I think I’m more anxious about this than she is...

I’ve wondered if anyone’s tried those silicone covers instead of regular wax? I read somewhere they’re less likely to fall apart, but I’m nervous about introducing something new when her mouth is still healing.

We tried the silicone covers after my son’s surgery - honestly, they were way less messy than wax, but they felt bulkier and he wasn’t a fan. Didn’t notice any real change in healing time, though. For us, comfort was the big thing. The drooling, yeah, that stage is... memorable. I stressed more than he did too, so you’re not alone there.

Silicone covers definitely have their pros and cons. I’ve seen a lot of patients find them less messy, but like you said, some folks just can’t get used to the bulk. One thing I’d add - if the tissue is still pretty raw, sometimes the silicone can tug a bit when you remove it, which might be uncomfortable. Wax is softer, but yeah, it falls apart faster. For healing, the big factors are usually keeping things clean (salt water rinses help) and minimizing irritation. It’s really about what feels least annoying during that first week or two.

For healing, the big factors are usually keeping things clean (salt water rinses help) and minimizing irritation.

Honestly, I tried the salt water thing and just ended up drooling everywhere. Anyone else find it hard to swish when your mouth barely opens? I actually preferred just toughing it out with nothing - less mess, less fuss. Maybe I’m weird but the covers always felt like I had a wad of gum stuck in there.

I hear you on the drooling - trying to swish salt water with your jaw barely cracked open is like a weird party trick no one wants to see. I tried it for a couple days after my surgery, but honestly, I felt like I was just making a mess and not actually rinsing anything. The covers (like the wax stuff) were a no-go for me, too. They just felt bulky and got gross fast.

I kind of stuck with toughing it out, mostly because I didn’t want to spend extra cash on fancy rinses or gels. My surgeon said as long as I kept things as clean as possible, that was good enough. I’d use a damp q-tip to gently wipe around the stitches, and that worked fine. Sometimes I’d just take a tiny sip of water and let it sit in my mouth for a bit, then tip my head and let it out - no swishing needed.

It wasn’t perfect, but it saved me money and hassle. Everyone’s got their own threshold for fuss, I guess.

trying to swish salt water with your jaw barely cracked open is like a weird party trick no one wants to see

That’s such a perfect description - it really does feel like you’re auditioning for the world’s saddest circus act. I totally get the frustration with both salt water and those wax covers. The wax always seems like a good idea until it turns into a weird, sticky mess, and then you’re left wondering if it helped at all.

Your q-tip approach is actually a smart workaround. I’ve seen people get creative with keeping things clean when the usual methods just aren’t working. Honestly, as long as you’re gentle and not poking at stitches, a damp q-tip can help clear out gunk without all the drama of swishing.

Not everyone needs the fancy gels or mouthwashes - sometimes simple really is best, especially if it means less hassle (and less money spent). It’s true, everyone’s got their own “threshold for fuss.” Some folks want every gadget and rinse, others just want to survive the week.

If what you did kept things clean and your healing went fine, you probably made the right call for yourself.

I totally relate to the wax turning into a weird, chewy blob - half the time it felt like it just made things worse for me. I tried salt water too, but honestly, swishing with my jaw barely open just made my face cramp up. I ended up mostly just using a little syringe to gently rinse around the stitches, which was way less stressful. Did anyone else get super paranoid about food getting stuck, or was that just me? I swear I spent half my recovery with a flashlight and a mirror...

That flashlight and mirror routine sounds way too familiar... I remember after my jaw surgery, I was convinced every little crumb would turn into an infection. The paranoia is real. Wax never worked for me either - just got stuck everywhere and made me more anxious. The little syringe was a lifesaver though, especially when I couldn’t really open my mouth much. Honestly, I spent a lot of time just hoping nothing would get wedged in there, but yeah, the stress about food getting stuck never really went away until everything healed up.

I can relate to the anxiety big time.

The paranoia is real. Wax never worked for me either - just got stuck everywhere and made me more anxious.

The salt water rinses were my go-to, but even then, I was always paranoid about missing a spot or not rinsing long enough. The little syringe thing (I think mine was called an irrigator?) basically became my security blanket for weeks. I’d use it after every single meal, even if I only managed to eat soup or something super soft. Still felt like crumbs were lurking somewhere though… It’s honestly wild how much stress comes from just eating or talking when you’re healing.

Not gonna lie, sometimes I wondered if I was being too cautious, but the fear of infection just made me double down on every routine. It’s a relief once everything finally heals up and you can stop overthinking every bite.

I totally get the fear of missing a spot with rinsing - felt like I was on a mission every time I used that irrigator. Wax just made everything feel gunkier for me too. Did anyone else get weirdly obsessed with checking their stitches? I swear I spent half my recovery peeking in the mirror.

That mirror-checking habit is so relatable. I thought I was being super careful, but honestly, I think I just wanted to make sure nothing weird was going on in there. I even tried using my phone camera for a better angle, which turned into a mini photoshoot of my stitches - probably not my finest moment.

About the wax, I’m with you. It always felt like it made things stickier, especially after eating or drinking anything warm. Salt water rinses were my go-to. I got a bit nerdy and actually looked up the best saline ratios and even tried warming it to “body temp” for comfort. Not sure if it helped speed healing, but it felt soothing and gave me something to focus on during recovery.

Did anyone else get into gadgets for cleaning? I ended up buying an irrigator with different tips - kind of overkill, but it made me feel like I was doing everything possible to avoid infection. Curious if anyone found a techy tool that actually made a difference, or if I just fell for the marketing...

Did anyone else get into gadgets for cleaning? I ended up buying an irrigator with different tips - kind of overkill, but it made me feel like I was doing everything possible to avoid infection.

Yeah, I totally went down the gadget rabbit hole too. I picked up one of those water flossers with the “gentle” mode, thinking it’d be less traumatic for my stitches. Honestly, it was kind of a mixed bag. It helped flush out little food bits (especially in those first few days when chewing felt like a distant memory), but if I wasn’t super careful, it would sting like crazy or make things swell up a bit. So… worth it? Maybe 60%, but not the miracle tool Instagram made it out to be.

I’m with you on the wax - never really clicked for me either. Always seemed to melt or slide around after anything warm. Salt water was my MVP. I also tried those pre-mixed saline packets when I got lazy, but honestly just mixing my own worked fine.

The mirror thing cracks me up because I did the same - ended up with way too many awkward close-ups of my mouth on my phone. Guess we all turn into amateur oral surgeons post-op...

- Tried wax once, felt like it just slid around and made things messier.
- Salt water rinse was the only thing that didn’t annoy my mouth.
- Thought about getting a fancy irrigator but chickened out after reading mixed reviews.
- Mostly just toughed it out and counted down to normal food... not my favorite era.
- Also, mirror selfies of stitches? Way too many in my camera roll now.