Salt water rinses sting for me too, but I feel like they do help with soreness, at least for a bit. Ice packs are nice in the moment but the relief doesn’t last long. I’ve poked my gums with those tiny brushes more times than I can count—sometimes it feels like they make things worse, other days it’s fine. Anyone else notice the swelling gets worse after eating certain foods? For me, popcorn is the worst.
Popcorn is basically my nemesis now...I totally get that. But honestly, I kinda struggle with the salt water rinses. They sting way too much for me, and sometimes I feel like they just make my gums angrier? I’ve actually found that just gently brushing and then swishing with plain water calms things down a bit, especially if my mouth’s already sore. Not sure if it’s just me being sensitive, but sometimes the “classic” advice doesn’t work for everyone.
sometimes I feel like they just make my gums angrier?
Yeah, I get that. Salt water rinses always feel like a punishment to me—like, who decided that was soothing? Ever tried using those alcohol-free mouthwashes instead? I swear they sting way less.
Salt water rinses always feel like a punishment to me—like, who decided that was soothing?
Honestly, same. I know salt water is supposed to reduce inflammation and help with healing because of its osmotic effect, but it just makes my gums feel raw sometimes. I switched to alcohol-free mouthwash too and it’s definitely gentler, though I sometimes wonder if it’s as effective at keeping bacteria down. Ice packs helped me more with the swelling, especially after adjustments... but they’re not exactly convenient if you’re out.
Salt water rinses always feel like a punishment to me—like, who decided that was soothing?
Haha, seriously, it feels like gargling the ocean. I still do it sometimes out of habit, but I can’t say I look forward to it. I get what you mean about alcohol-free mouthwash being gentler—my gums used to sting like crazy with the regular stuff, so I switched too. Can’t really tell if it’s killing as many germs, but at least my mouth isn’t on fire.
Ice packs are a lifesaver, but yeah, not exactly something you can whip out in the middle of class or at work. I tried using a cold water bottle once in a pinch... not quite the same, but it helped a bit with the swelling.
Honestly, I’m just counting down the days till these braces come off. Swollen gums and all, I keep telling myself it’ll be worth it in the end.
