That’s super reassuring to read, especially the bit about gentle brushing. I was so paranoid about accidentally hitting the stitches that I probably avoided the area more than I should have.
Yeah, I caved and had some toast on day four and instantly regretted it... felt like every crumb was plotting against me. Glad to know the weird taste is normal though. It’s hard not to overthink every little thing when you’re healing.“Chips on day three is definitely risky—food debris can get stuck really easily, so sticking to softer foods for a bit longer is usually safer, even if it’s boring.”
I completely relate to the paranoia about brushing near stitches—I was convinced I’d somehow unravel them just by looking at them too hard. Ended up doing this weird half-brush, half-hover routine for a few days, which probably wasn’t helping anything. About food, I tried to stick to the “safe” stuff for as long as possible but caved at mashed potatoes with a suspiciously crunchy edge on day five. Instantly regretted it. The mental image of crumbs plotting against you is too real.
The weird taste thing threw me off too. I kept thinking something was wrong, but apparently, it’s just part of healing (and maybe a bit of leftover blood—gross, but true). Honestly, it’s wild how much you start overanalyzing every twinge or flavor when your mouth’s healing. Did you notice any swelling after eating something less soft? I felt like my gums puffed up after anything even slightly chewy, but maybe that was just me being hyper-aware.
That half-hover brushing technique is a rite of passage, I swear. I remember feeling like I was defusing a bomb every time I went near the stitches—one wrong move and kaboom, back to the dentist. As for swelling, I definitely noticed more puffiness after anything remotely chewy (even overcooked pasta set me off). Could be normal inflammation, or maybe just the brain going into hyperdrive. The taste thing is wild, too—mine was like rusty pennies for days. Not exactly gourmet.
That “don’t touch the stitches” phase is something else, isn’t it? My daughter had her first tooth pulled last year (baby tooth that just wouldn’t budge), and I swear, she acted like her mouth was full of landmines. She’d brush her teeth with this look of pure concentration, holding the toothbrush like it was a surgical tool. I had to bite my tongue not to laugh, but honestly, I get it—one wrong move and you’re back to square one with the dentist’s warnings ringing in your ears.
The swelling thing threw me for a loop, though. We stuck to soft foods, but even mashed potatoes seemed to make her cheeks puff up like a chipmunk some days. I kept thinking, “Is this normal? Or am I about to become a regular at the dental office?” Turns out, it just took a few days for things to settle. Ice packs helped a bit, but mostly she just wanted to watch cartoons and be left alone.
That taste you mentioned—ugh, yes. She kept telling me her mouth tasted “like old pennies and band-aids.” Not exactly what you want when you’re already feeling crummy. I tried to jazz up her water with a splash of lemon (just a little, since citrus can sting), but honestly, time was the only thing that really fixed it.
Funny thing is, after all that drama, she’s now super proud of her “battle scar.” Shows it off every chance she gets. Kids bounce back faster than adults sometimes, I think. If anyone else is dealing with this, hang in there. It gets less scary for both of you after the first day or two... even if you have to survive on pudding and yogurt for a while.
She’d brush her teeth with this look of pure concentration, holding the toothbrush like it was a surgical tool.
That’s so relatable—I remember my nephew after his wisdom teeth came out, he practically mapped out a “no-go” zone in his mouth. Did you find any tools (like those tiny dental syringes) actually helped, or was it just patience and soft foods? I always wonder if there’s a real tech fix for that weird “old pennies” taste, or if it’s just one of those things you have to ride out. Either way, sounds like your daughter handled it like a champ.