Totally agree about the crunchy snacks—been there, done that, and it wasn't pretty. Mashed potatoes were our go-to as well, plus yogurt and applesauce. Anything soft and cool seemed to help a lot.
About the brushing issue, we had similar concerns. Our dentist recommended gently swishing with warm salt water a couple times a day in addition to the rinse. It felt weird at first, but honestly, it seemed to help keep things cleaner without irritating the biopsy site. We also used a super-soft baby toothbrush after a few days, just being extra careful around the area.
Chamomile tea was great for us too—my orthodontist actually suggested it. We let it cool down to room temp or even chilled it slightly. Another thing that worked surprisingly well was aloe vera juice (the drinkable kind). It was soothing and seemed to speed up healing a bit, though maybe that was just wishful thinking on my part... Either way, worth a shot if you're looking for something gentle and comforting.
Good call on the aloe vera juice—I tried it once after a dental procedure and it did seem to soothe things nicely. Didn't notice faster healing myself, but hey, comfort counts for a lot when your mouth's sore... Hang in there, it'll get better soon.
Aloe's soothing, sure, but honestly saltwater rinses have always worked better for me. Seems counterintuitive with soreness, but it kept inflammation down noticeably. Might be worth a cautious try...
"Seems counterintuitive with soreness, but it kept inflammation down noticeably."
Totally agree—saltwater rinses can be surprisingly effective. I've seen plenty of patients hesitant at first, but once they give it a shot, they're usually glad they did. Just keep it gentle and lukewarm...too hot or salty can irritate more than help.
I was skeptical about saltwater rinses at first too, especially after my biopsy when everything felt raw and sensitive. But honestly, it turned out to be one of the best things I did. The trick for me was keeping the water just barely warm and not overdoing the salt—too much definitely made things worse. After a couple days, I noticed a real difference in swelling and discomfort. Hang in there, it gets easier pretty quickly.
