That “healing rinse” price tag is wild, right? I swear, the dental aisle after surgery feels like a trap for desperate, puffy-cheeked people. I remember squinting at this tiny bottle promising “gentle recovery” and thinking, “If my mouth’s not made of velvet after this, I want my money back.” Ended up going the salt water route too—tasted like licking a battery, but hey, it worked.
Honestly, half the stuff they try to sell you for aftercare is just fancy branding. Salt water’s been the go-to for generations for a reason. My grandma swore by it too (she also believed in whiskey as medicine, but that’s another story). The only thing I’d say is, if you’re clumsy like me, just make sure you’re not rinsing too hard. I learned the hard way that “gently swish” actually means gently. Nobody told me you could mess up your stitches with an overenthusiastic rinse... whoops.
I do get why some people splurge on the special rinses though. If you’ve got sensitive gums or you’re worried about infection, sometimes peace of mind is worth a few extra bucks. But most of us don’t need a $12 potion when salt and warm water does the trick just fine.
Biggest thing I wish I’d known? How much drooling would be involved. They should warn people about that instead of upselling mouthwash.
That drooling thing caught me totally off guard too—I felt like I needed a towel at all times. I was super anxious about aftercare, but honestly, your point about salt water makes me feel a lot better. I kept worrying I’d mess something up if I didn’t use the “official” rinse, but it’s good to hear old-school methods work. The gentle swishing is so real... I definitely overdid it once and panicked thinking I’d ruined everything. Appreciate the reminder that it’s more about being careful than buying fancy stuff.
You’re definitely not alone—so many people assume you need some fancy rinse, but honestly, gentle salt water is tried-and-true. The drooling is no joke though... I remember thinking I’d never stop! As long as you’re not swishing too hard, you’re doing it right.
Salt water is honestly underrated, right? I tried one of those “fancy” mouth rinses and it just stung like crazy. Did anyone else get paranoid about accidentally swishing too hard and messing up the stitches? I swear, I spent half the week with a towel under my chin because of all the drool... Never thought I’d be grateful for a numb mouth. Did your swelling last long? Mine made me look like a chipmunk for three days, no joke.
