I did notice that keeping her propped up with a couple of pillows at night seemed to help a bit, or maybe I just wanted to believe it did.
I’ve read mixed things about pillow stacking, honestly. Elevation can help with swelling in theory, but I sometimes worry it makes it harder for kids to sleep well. When I had my wisdom teeth out, I actually felt worse after propping myself up all night—just woke up stiff and cranky. Maybe it’s different for kids though? I always default to ice packs even if they only last a few minutes... feels more targeted somehow.
I always default to ice packs even if they only last a few minutes... feels more targeted somehow.
I totally get that. After my last molar extraction, I tried the pillow stacking thing because I’d heard it helps with swelling, but honestly, it just made my neck ache and I barely slept. Woke up feeling like I’d been in a wrestling match with my own bedding. Ice packs ended up being my go-to too, even if they slide around or melt halfway through the movie I’m watching. There’s something about that cold hit right on the cheek that just feels like it’s doing more than any amount of propping up ever did.
Funny enough, my nephew had his baby tooth pulled and slept flat as a pancake—barely any swelling at all. Maybe it depends on the person (or maybe kids are just made of rubber). Either way, I’d rather deal with a little puffiness than wake up with a crick in my neck again.
Stacking pillows always sounded logical in theory, but I swear I ended up with more neck pain than anything else—plus, who can actually sleep when you feel like you’re perched on a mountain? I’m with you on the ice packs. Even if they only last through half an episode, that cold blast right to the jaw just feels like it’s doing something. I’ve tried the whole frozen bag of peas trick too, but then you smell like vegetables and that’s a whole other problem.
Your nephew must have some kind of superpower. When my niece had her wisdom teeth out, she bounced back in a day and barely puffed up at all. Meanwhile, I looked like I’d gone three rounds with a squirrel for a week. Maybe it’s an age thing or just dumb luck?
Has anyone here actually tried any of those “miracle” anti-swelling creams or gels? My aunt swears by arnica gel for everything from bruises to bug bites, but I’ve never been brave enough to put it near my mouth. Or maybe there’s some other weird home remedy people use? I mean, besides the classic “don’t talk and don’t eat anything fun” advice dentists love to give.
I always wonder if drinking cold drinks helps or hurts—like am I doubling down on the cold therapy or just making myself miserable for no reason?
I’ve tried the whole frozen bag of peas trick too, but then you smell like vegetables and that’s a whole other problem.
Haha, right? I thought I was being thrifty with the peas, but my face ended up smelling like dinner prep. Honestly, I think those “miracle” gels are just a way to make us spend more. My wallet says no thanks. I actually found that just using a cheap washcloth soaked in cold water and swapping it out every 20 minutes worked as well as any fancy thing. As for cold drinks, I swear they made my mouth ache more—plus, who wants brain freeze on top of jaw pain?
I hear you on the “miracle” gels—seems like every year there’s a new one, and honestly, I’ve never noticed a difference from just using a cold compress. I’ve tried the peas and even those reusable ice packs, but honestly, a simple wet washcloth does the trick for me too. I do think some folks overdo it with the cold, though. My dentist once told me to stick with 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off, and that’s made recovery way smoother. Has anyone here actually found those fancy gel packs to be worth the extra cost?
