Either way, “be gentle” really does feel like code for “good luck, you’re on your own.”
That line cracked me up because it’s exactly how I felt after my wisdom tooth extraction. The dentist gave me this whole list of “do’s and don’ts,” but it was basically just, “Here’s a syringe and some saltwater, good luck.” I was terrified of dry socket too, so I did this weird half-brushing thing for like four days. My breath could’ve powered a small server room, but hey—no pain, no ER visit. Worth it.
That’s actually pretty much how it went for my kid last summer. The oral surgeon handed us a little packet and said, “Just be gentle and don’t spit.” I was like, okay, but what does “gentle” even mean for a 10-year-old who thinks applesauce is boring after two bites? We ended up doing a lot of yogurt and smoothies, but I was paranoid about the straw thing—felt like one wrong slurp and we’d be back in the waiting room.
How long did you wait before you (or anyone’s kid) started eating normally again? I felt like I was being way too cautious, but the idea of dry socket freaked me out more than a few days of soft food. Did you stick to the saltwater rinses, or did you just let it slide after a while? I still feel like I’m overthinking it...
Totally get the paranoia about dry socket—those warnings really stick in your head, right? My kid was back to eating more “normal” stuff after about a week, but I probably could’ve relaxed sooner. We did the saltwater rinses for a few days, then kind of forgot (oops). I think being cautious is just part of the parent package, especially when you’ve got a kid who’s bored of pudding by day two. You’re not alone in overthinking it!
Yeah, those dry socket warnings are like the blue screen of death for dental recovery—once you hear about it, you can’t stop thinking about it. I remember after my wisdom tooth extraction, I was convinced even breathing wrong would cause problems. Ended up eating mashed potatoes and yogurt way longer than needed. Turns out, the human mouth is surprisingly resilient... just wish someone had told my anxiety that.
After my last molar got yanked, I was convinced even smiling too wide would set off a dental apocalypse. Step one: I survived on pudding and lukewarm soup for three days. Step two: finally realized coffee wouldn’t kill me. Step three: chewed on the other side for a week, just in case. Didn’t get dry socket, but my anxiety was working overtime... turns out our mouths bounce back faster than we think.
