Wrapping the peas in a towel might help a little, but honestly, I'd still be cautious. Towels can absorb moisture and bacteria too, so you'd have to wash it frequently. When my daughter had her wisdom teeth out, we switched to gel packs after a day or two—way less hassle and easier to keep clean. Plus, they're softer and mold better around the face. Might be worth giving gel packs a try if you're worried about cleanliness.
Totally agree about the gel packs being a better option. Honestly, I tried the frozen peas thing myself after my gum graft surgery, and it was kind of a nightmare. Sure, they're convenient at first, but after a couple hours they start thawing and get mushy—gross. Plus, even wrapped in a towel, they never really molded comfortably around my jawline. I ended up constantly adjusting them, which just made me more anxious about accidentally bumping the surgical site.
Gel packs were a lifesaver for me too. They're way easier to sanitize—just wipe them down with some disinfectant wipes or soap and water, and you're good to go. And since they're specifically designed for medical use, I felt way less paranoid about bacteria or contamination. Trust me, when you're already stressed out from dental surgery (and believe me, I was!), the last thing you want is worrying about hygiene on top of everything else.
One tip though: make sure you have at least two gel packs handy so you can rotate them easily. That way one stays cold in the freezer while you're using the other one. It really helped keep swelling down consistently without having to wait around for them to refreeze.
Also—and this might just be my anxiety talking—but double-check with your dentist or surgeon about how long you should keep icing. Mine recommended 20 minutes on and 20 off for the first day or two only; after that, too much ice can actually slow down healing by restricting blood flow. Just something to keep in mind if you're like me and tend to overdo things out of caution...
Anyway, good luck with your recovery! Gum surgery isn't fun by any means, but having the right supplies definitely makes it more manageable.
Totally with you on the peas—tried that once and ended up with a soggy veggie mess dripping down my neck. Not exactly the spa treatment I was hoping for after surgery, lol. Gel packs were way better, but did anyone else find them almost TOO cold at first? Had to wrap mine in an extra towel just to avoid freezer burn on my face...or am I just being dramatic? Also curious if anyone tried those ice pack head wraps—worth it or gimmicky?
"Gel packs were way better, but did anyone else find them almost TOO cold at first?"
Haha, totally feel you on that—first time I slapped one on my face, I thought I'd accidentally cryogenically frozen my cheek. Had to double-wrap mine too, so nope, you're not being dramatic. About those head wraps... I almost bought one but couldn't justify the price tag (budget patient here 🙋♂️). Instead, I DIY'd it with an old scarf and a gel pack—looked ridiculous but worked surprisingly well. My roommate still teases me about my "fashion-forward recovery look," but hey, at least I didn't drip peas everywhere again...
Haha, gel packs are great but yeah, they can feel like an arctic blast at first. I found wrapping mine in a thin towel helped soften the chill without losing effectiveness. DIY scarf-wrap sounds genius though—wish I'd thought of that before splurging on the fancy head wrap.
