I actually had a different experience—mouthwash (even the mild stuff) worked better for me than saltwater. I know the sting isn’t fun, but my ortho said it helped keep things cleaner, so I stuck with it. Saltwater just felt too gentle, like it wasn’t doing much. Maybe I’m just impatient, but I wanted that “super clean” feeling after all the dental work. Guess everyone’s mouth is a little different.
I totally get what you mean about wanting that super clean feeling after dental work. Mouthwash definitely gives you that tingle, but honestly, I stuck with saltwater mostly because it’s so cheap and easy to mix up at home. Did you ever worry about the cost of using mouthwash every day? I always wonder if the extra price is really worth it in the long run, especially since my dentist said saltwater’s fine for healing. Maybe it depends on how sensitive your mouth is... I know some people can’t handle the sting at all.
Honestly, the price of mouthwash adds up faster than you’d think, right? I tried using it daily for a while but then did the math and realized a bottle barely lasts two weeks. Saltwater’s basically free and my dentist said it’s just as good for healing, so I’m sticking with that for now. Plus, mouthwash stings like crazy if you’ve got sensitive gums... Have you ever noticed it actually makes things feel worse sometimes? Maybe it’s just me being a cheapskate, but I’d rather save those few bucks for coffee.
“mouthwash stings like crazy if you’ve got sensitive gums... Have you ever noticed it actually makes things feel worse sometimes?”
That’s actually pretty common, especially with alcohol-based mouthwashes. After my own root canal, I stuck to saltwater rinses for a week or so—felt way gentler and didn’t irritate the area. Mouthwash can be helpful later on, but for healing, saltwater’s usually enough and way less harsh.
“mouthwash stings like crazy if you’ve got sensitive gums... Have you ever noticed it actually makes things feel worse sometimes?”
Definitely noticed this with my kid after his root canal. Even the "gentle" mouthwash was too much for him—the burning just made him not want to rinse at all. Saltwater was way easier, and his dentist said it’s fine for keeping things clean early on. We only switched to mouthwash after a couple weeks, and even then, stuck with alcohol-free.
