"Sensitivity eased up gradually for her too, took about a week or so...felt longer though."
Yeah, that first week after gum surgery always feels like forever. I found lukewarm compresses helped me more than ice packs initially. Did your daughter also have trouble with certain foods at first?
I totally get the lukewarm compress thing—ice packs were a lifesaver for me at first, but after a couple days, they just felt too harsh. Lukewarm was definitely gentler and more soothing. Did you find it tricky to keep the compress at the right temperature? I kept microwaving mine too long and ended up juggling it around until it cooled off enough to actually use, haha.
Food-wise, I remember being super cautious at first. I stuck mostly to soups and smoothies because chewing anything remotely solid felt like a risky adventure. Did your daughter have issues with temperature sensitivity too? For me, even room-temperature water felt oddly uncomfortable for a while. Weirdly enough, mashed potatoes became my best friend—cheap, easy to make, and gentle on the gums. Plus, they're filling enough that I didn't feel hungry every hour.
One thing I noticed is that everyone seems to heal differently. My dentist gave me this whole list of foods to avoid, but honestly, some of the recommended "safe" foods still bothered me. Did you guys find any surprising foods that worked better than expected? Or maybe something you thought would be fine but turned out to be a no-go?
Anyway, hang in there—it really does get better pretty quickly after that first rough patch. Before you know it, she'll be back to eating normally and forgetting all about this ordeal...until the dentist reminds her at the next check-up, lol.
Totally agree about mashed potatoes being a lifesaver. Scrambled eggs were surprisingly good too—soft, nutritious, and didn't irritate the gums. Weirdly, yogurt bothered me at first even though it was on the dentist's "safe" list...guess everyone's different.
"Weirdly, yogurt bothered me at first even though it was on the dentist's 'safe' list...guess everyone's different."
Yeah, it's funny how individual reactions can vary. Yogurt was actually my go-to comfort food after surgery, but scrambled eggs felt oddly gritty to me at first. Ice packs though—total MVPs. I practically lived with one glued to my cheek for days. Hang in there, it gets better pretty quick!
"Ice packs though—total MVPs. I practically lived with one glued to my cheek for days."
Interesting you say that about ice packs...I actually found them pretty uncomfortable after my gum surgery. Did anyone else feel like the cold made the pain sharper at first? Maybe it's just me being overly cautious, but I ended up switching to warm compresses after the first day or two. My dentist said it was okay as long as swelling wasn't getting worse, and honestly, the warmth felt way more soothing.
Also, yogurt was a no-go for me too, weirdly enough. I know it's supposed to be gentle, but something about the acidity or texture just didn't sit right. I ended up sticking mostly to lukewarm soups and mashed potatoes. Cheap, easy, and didn't irritate anything. Did anyone else find that the "safe" foods list wasn't always reliable? I mean, scrambled eggs were fine for me, but oatmeal—another supposed safe bet—felt gritty and uncomfortable. Go figure.
One thing I wish I'd known earlier was how much hydration matters. I was so anxious about disturbing the stitches or causing more pain that I barely drank anything the first day. Big mistake. Staying hydrated actually helped with the swelling and made recovery feel smoother overall. Did anyone else underestimate hydration at first, or was that just my anxiety kicking in?
Anyway, glad to hear things get better quickly. I'm still in the cautious stage, counting pennies and days until things feel normal again...
