Funny you mention the mouth dryness, because I actually had the opposite problem—my mouth felt kind of filmy instead. Maybe it depends on which rinse or product you’re using? I tried a couple before finding one that didn’t leave me feeling like I needed to brush again right after. As for noticing changes, honestly, I didn’t see much at first either, but my ortho kept saying consistency is key. I was skeptical, but after a couple weeks the wiggling really did calm down.
I get what you mean about the aftertaste though... some of those rinses are just brutal. For me, switching brands helped more than just upping my water intake. Sometimes it feels like we’re all just trial-and-error-ing our way through this stuff. If you’re still dealing with dryness, maybe try a different rinse? That’s what finally worked for me, even though everyone swore by the first one I tried.
Totally relate to the whole trial-and-error thing—feels like half my bathroom cabinet is just rejected mouth rinses at this point. It’s wild how different products can be for everyone. I used to think dryness was just something you had to put up with, but nope… turns out some brands are way harsher than others. The filmy feeling you mentioned? Had that too, especially with one “natural” rinse that everyone online seemed to love. Hated it.
Consistency really does make a difference though, even if it’s annoying at first when you don’t see changes. I almost gave up before things settled down. My ortho kept saying that gums need time to heal and tighten, and now I’m actually seeing it. Funny how patience is harder than any of the routines.
And yeah, aftertaste is no joke—some of them linger for hours. For me, switching to an alcohol-free rinse helped a ton with both taste and dryness. Water helps, but if the rinse itself is causing issues, no amount of hydration fixes that. It’s all about finding what doesn’t make your mouth feel weird or gross afterward.
Consistency really does make a difference though, even if it’s annoying at first when you don’t see changes. I almost gave up before things settled down.
That’s honestly the hardest part—waiting for your mouth to catch up with all the effort you’re putting in. I remember thinking my gums were just “stuck” that way and nothing would help, but sticking with a routine (even when it felt pointless) finally paid off. Also, totally agree on alcohol-free rinses. Some of those “natural” ones are weirdly intense, right? Glad you found something that works for you. It’s such a relief when your mouth just feels… normal again.
Honestly, I almost gave up too, mostly because I was tired of spending money on stuff that felt like it wasn’t doing anything. Those fancy rinses are wild—one of them made my mouth feel like I’d licked a pine tree. But yeah, once I found a cheap alcohol-free one (store brand, not even kidding), and actually stuck to brushing and flossing, things finally calmed down. It’s annoying how slow it is, but way cheaper than dental work in the long run.
Those fancy rinses are wild—one of them made my mouth feel like I’d licked a pine tree.
Yeah, I’ve tried a few of those “premium” mouthwashes and honestly didn’t notice much difference besides the weird aftertaste. Consistency with brushing and flossing really is the game changer. Store brands work just fine—no need to overcomplicate it.
