Yeah, I totally get that—my jaw felt kind of stiff too when I left the ice on longer than they said. Honestly, I was nervous to try heat since my dentist didn’t mention it, but maybe I should’ve asked. Swelling freaked me out more than the pain, though.
Swelling freaked me out more than the pain, though.
Same here—swelling was my biggest worry, especially since I didn’t want to miss work (unpaid sick days are brutal). I mostly stuck with ice because it was cheap and easy, just a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a towel. But I got a bit overzealous and left it on too long one night... woke up with my jaw feeling locked up. Never tried heat either, just because I didn’t want to risk messing up the healing or end up with more appointments (and bills). Looking back, maybe alternating would’ve helped, but I was playing it safe and frugal.
Funny you mention the frozen peas—those were my go-to too. Swelling just made me feel like I’d been punched in the face, and I was way more self-conscious about that than the actual pain. I totally get being afraid to mess with heat; I remember googling for ages, trying to figure out if switching to warm compresses would actually help or just make things worse. Ended up sticking with ice, but honestly, I think I overdid it as well. There was a point where half my cheek felt numb for hours... not ideal.
A friend of mine swore by alternating ice and heat after a day or two, but I was too nervous to try anything that wasn’t “by the book.” Kind of wish I’d asked my dentist more questions instead of just toughing it out. Live and learn, right? If there’s ever a next time, I might be a little less paranoid about experimenting (within reason).
You’re not alone with the frozen peas—honestly, I recommend them all the time, but it’s so easy to go overboard. I’ve seen folks get mild frostbite from leaving ice packs on too long, so that numb cheek thing isn’t just you. The “20 minutes on, 20 off” rule is there for a reason, but I get how it’s tempting to just keep icing when it feels swollen. As for heat, I usually suggest waiting at least 48 hours before even thinking about it, and only if swelling’s gone down. It can help with stiffness, but too early and it might make things worse. Next time, don’t hesitate to call the office—people ask about this stuff all the time, and we’d much rather answer a quick question than have someone tough it out in silence.
Next time, don’t hesitate to call the office—people ask about this stuff all the time, and we’d much rather answer a quick question than have someone tough it out in silence.
That “20 minutes on, 20 off” rule is a lifesaver, but I totally get why it’s tempting to ignore when your face feels like a balloon. Did you feel like the swelling peaked around day two? That was the worst for me. I actually used a bag of frozen corn once—worked just as well as peas, honestly. It’s good to hear I’m not the only one who wondered if I was overdoing it. And yeah, calling the office felt awkward at first, but they really don’t mind.
