I actually had the opposite issue—cold drinks made my teeth ache like crazy, even though everyone swears by them after gum surgery. I ended up sipping on lukewarm herbal tea (after double-checking with my dentist, who said as long as it’s not hot, it’s fine). Dry mouth was a thing for me too, especially at night. I used a humidifier and that helped a bit, but honestly, I think the strict temperature rules are more about avoiding irritation than anything else. Sometimes I wonder if we’re over-cautious... but then again, I’d rather be safe than sorry.
I totally get what you mean about being extra careful—after my own gum procedure, I was almost paranoid about temperature. Cold things made my teeth throb, but warm stuff freaked me out too since everyone said “no heat.” I ended up with room-temp water for days, just to be safe. My dentist told me the same thing: it’s really all about not irritating the area while it heals. I’ve seen patients bounce back fine even when they’re a little less strict, but I’d rather err on the side of caution... maybe it’s just nerves from seeing worst-case scenarios at work.
I’ve been wondering—did you try any of those numbing mouthwashes or gels? I keep hearing mixed things about them. Some people swear by them, others say they just made things feel weird. Curious if that helped at all with the sensitivity for you?
Tried the numbing gels after my gum graft, and honestly, it was a bit of a circus. First time I used one, I thought, “Sweet, I won’t feel a thing!”—but then my tongue went numb and I kept accidentally biting it. Not exactly the relief I was hoping for. It did take the edge off the sensitivity for maybe half an hour, but then I was left with this weird tingly feeling, like I’d just licked a battery. Not painful, just... odd.
I also gave one of those mouthwashes a shot (the kind that promises to “soothe and protect”). It worked okay, but the taste was like minty sadness. I couldn’t eat or drink anything for a while because everything tasted off. My partner thought I was being dramatic until he tried it himself and made the same face I did.
What actually helped me more was just sticking with the super basic stuff—ice water, soft foods, and being gentle with brushing. I know it’s boring, but my mouth felt less like a science experiment that way. The numbing stuff is fine if you’re desperate, but I wouldn’t call it a miracle fix. Maybe it’s just me, but I’d rather have a little discomfort than feel like my whole mouth is asleep.
If you do try the gels, just don’t go overboard. I learned the hard way that too much can make you drool like a St. Bernard. Not my best look.
That numb-tongue thing is exactly what I’m worried about—I keep imagining I’ll bite straight through my tongue and not even notice. I’ve actually been kind of obsessed with reading the side effects on those gels. It’s wild how something that’s supposed to help can just make you feel...off. I tried a tiny dab once after my deep cleaning, and it was like my whole mouth was disconnected from my brain. Ended up just sipping cold water and eating mashed potatoes for a few days. Honestly, boring wins sometimes.
