Ice packs were my ride-or-die for those first few days too, but honestly, I started to wonder if I was overdoing it. Was anyone else paranoid about frostbite? I kept switching cheeks like I was in some weird Olympic event. For food, my big fail was scrambled eggs—seemed soft enough, but they stuck everywhere. Applesauce ended up being a lifesaver, though I’m still not sure I can look at pudding the same way again.
Haha, I totally relate to the Olympic-level cheek switching—felt like I was timing my rotations like a pro. The frostbite paranoia was real for me too. I actually wrapped my ice packs in like three towels because I was convinced I’d end up with freezer burn otherwise. As for food, mashed potatoes were my go-to, but even those got old fast. Applesauce was weirdly comforting, though... pudding just reminds me of hospitals now.
That cheek switching was a whole event for me too—felt like I was setting a timer for each side just to avoid that weird numb, tingly feeling. I actually tried using those gel packs at first, but they got way too cold, even with a towel, so I switched to bags of frozen peas. They conformed better to my face and didn’t feel as harsh. Food-wise, mashed potatoes were solid, but I hit my limit by day three... Ended up blending soups and regretting the tomato one—way too acidic. Pudding’s forever ruined for me, honestly; can’t separate it from that hospital vibe either.
I never really got along with ice packs or frozen peas, honestly. For me, a warm compress after the first day or two actually felt better—maybe it’s just an age thing or personal preference, but that numbing cold just made my jaw ache even more. I know the dentist always says ice, but sometimes a little heat goes a long way once the swelling’s down.
On the food front, I can relate to the mashed potatoes fatigue. I actually found scrambled eggs and soft-cooked pasta easier to handle when I couldn’t take another spoonful of potatoes or pudding. Applesauce was surprisingly soothing too—kind of bland, but gentle on the mouth. Pudding’s got that hospital vibe for me as well, can’t shake it.
Funny how everyone finds their own little comfort routine during recovery.
I always felt like the ice packs were more for show than anything else. Maybe I’m just impatient, but after an hour or two of that numb, tingling feeling, I’d had enough. Warm compresses made things feel less stiff for me too, especially when the swelling started to go down. It’s funny how the “official” advice doesn’t always line up with what actually feels good.
Food-wise, mashed potatoes got old fast. I ended up living on overcooked noodles and yogurt—scrambled eggs were a lifesaver, but only if they were super soft. I never understood how anyone could eat pudding for days… it just screams hospital food, you know?
