Salt rinses are legit lifesavers, totally agree there. Aloe vera gel though...I gave it a shot once because my gums were acting like angry toddlers after a dentist visit. Honestly, it wasn't bad—felt soothing and all—but I wouldn't call it a miracle cure or anything. It helped calm things down temporarily, but didn't seem to speed up healing dramatically or anything.
If you're thinking about trying it, just make sure you get the pure stuff without weird additives (some aloe gels have alcohol or fragrances that can irritate more than help). Personally, I've found clove oil diluted with coconut oil way more effective, especially if you're dealing with pain or swelling. It's cheap too—always a bonus for us budget-conscious folks. Just be careful not to overdo it because clove oil is strong as heck and can burn if you use too much...learned that the hard way, haha.
Clove oil's definitely effective, but I found it a bit too intense even diluted. Weirdly enough, chamomile tea bags worked wonders for me—just steeped, cooled, and placed gently on sore gums. Super soothing and gentle...plus cheap and easy to find.
"Weirdly enough, chamomile tea bags worked wonders for me—just steeped, cooled, and placed gently on sore gums."
That's a great tip, never thought of chamomile tea bags! I've been using saltwater rinses myself—cheap and effective—but sometimes they're a bit drying. Have you noticed any dryness with chamomile?
Chamomile's been pretty gentle for me, personally. I totally get what you mean about saltwater—it's effective but definitely leaves my mouth feeling kinda tight and uncomfortable afterward. Chamomile didn't give me that drying sensation, probably because it's naturally soothing and calming. But everyone's different, so maybe try it once or twice first to see how your gums react? Hope it helps... gum issues really are the worst.
"Chamomile didn't give me that drying sensation, probably because it's naturally soothing and calming."
Interesting you mention chamomile—I tried it a while back when my braces were really irritating my gums. It felt nice at first, but weirdly enough, after a few uses, my gums got kinda sensitive again. Aloe vera gel ended up working better for me... everyone's mileage varies, I guess. Gum issues truly are no joke.
