Ice packs really are a lifesaver after gum surgery. I remember rotating through a bunch of them when I had mine done—felt like my freezer was working overtime, haha. Aloe sounds interesting though; I've used it for sunburns plenty of times but never thought about it for dental stuff. Cucumbers might be nice too, especially since they're gentle and cooling. One thing that helped me a lot was chamomile tea bags (cooled down, obviously). My dentist recommended them because chamomile has anti-inflammatory properties, and honestly, it felt pretty soothing on the gums. Just make sure they're not too hot or cold—room temperature is perfect. Anyway, glad you're finding relief and healing well... gum surgery recovery can definitely test your patience.
Chamomile tea bags are definitely a solid suggestion—good call on that. The anti-inflammatory properties can really help calm things down and speed up healing. Aloe can be soothing externally, but I'd be cautious about using it directly on surgical sites inside your mouth, since some aloe products aren't meant for internal use. Cucumbers are gentle, but their effect might be limited to surface-level cooling rather than deeper inflammation relief. Honestly, rotating ice packs is still the gold standard—tedious, sure, but effective. Gum surgery recovery really is about patience and consistency... hang in there.
Chamomile tea bags are nice, but have you tried clove oil? I found it way more effective for numbing and calming inflammation after my gum surgery. Aloe always seemed a bit iffy to me too—never felt comfortable putting it inside my mouth. Ice packs are great, but honestly, clove oil was a lifesaver when I couldn't handle the cold anymore. Maybe worth a shot if you're getting tired of the ice rotation routine...
Clove oil's legit, but did anyone else find the taste kinda overwhelming? Felt like I'd bitten into a holiday candle, lol. Ice packs were my jam, though I admit the rotation got old fast...maybe chamomile tea bags next time?
"Felt like I'd bitten into a holiday candle, lol."
Haha, that's exactly how a lot of my patients describe it. Clove oil's effective but definitely an acquired taste. Chamomile tea bags could help—gentle warmth and anti-inflammatory properties might be soothing. Hang in there, it gets easier!
