I hear you on the wax—it’s always felt like a short-term fix for me too. There were nights when I’d wake up and realize the wax had just vanished (pretty sure I swallowed it a few times, honestly). I started using a dab of coconut oil on the really rough spots before bed. It doesn’t last forever, but it’s soothing and way cheaper. Saltwater rinses helped me the most, though. Not glamorous, but they actually calmed down the angry spots faster than anything else. The cost of all this stuff adds up fast... I started skipping the “special” mouthwashes and just stuck with salt and patience.
Can’t say I ever got much out of those pricey rinses either. Saltwater’s been my go-to for decades—old-school but effective. I’ve tried coconut oil, but it didn’t do much for me, though I know folks swear by it. Did you ever try using a warm wet washcloth as a compress on your jaw? Sometimes that helped more with the soreness than anything in my mouth. Curious if anyone else found relief that way or if it was just my imagination...
Did you ever try using a warm wet washcloth as a compress on your jaw? Sometimes that helped more with the soreness than anything in my mouth.
Funny you mention the washcloth—I used to do that when my wisdom teeth were coming in, and it took the edge off way better than any mouth rinse. I always wondered if it was just the heat distracting me or if it actually loosened up the tension. Ever try alternating hot and cold? I read somewhere that switching between the two can help, but I never stuck with it long enough to tell. Sometimes old-school tricks just work, even if there’s no fancy science behind them.
My kiddo’s ortho actually suggested the hot/cold switch when her braces got tightened last time. We tried ten minutes warm, then a cold pack for a few, and I think the cold helped more with swelling, but the heat was better for relaxing her jaw. Funny how sometimes the simplest things work better than meds.
I actually found the hot/cold thing didn’t do much for me, honestly. After my last tightening, it was more about finding a soft food that didn’t make me wince—mashed potatoes, yogurt, that kind of stuff. I tried heat packs but ended up just feeling kind of uncomfortable. Maybe it’s just different for everyone, but for me, ibuprofen and sticking to cold drinks worked way better than heat. Guess pain management is super personal.