Honestly, it feels like every office has their own rules... maybe it’s just old habits from different training?
I get what you mean, but I kind of see it differently. I’ve had extractions at a couple places (one was a low-cost clinic), and honestly, the instructions were all over the place. But after paying out of pocket, I started to focus more on what was practical and affordable for me rather than stressing about following every little detail to the letter.
For example, waiting 12 vs 24 hours to rinse—if you’re careful about not swishing hard or messing with the clot, it probably doesn’t matter as much as they make it sound. I’ve done both and never had issues. Same with dissolvable stitches—nobody told me to do anything special, so I just stuck to saltwater rinses and soft food until things felt normal.
I think sometimes they just want to cover themselves liability-wise or stick with whatever worked for them in the past. It’s annoying when you’re trying to save money and not overcomplicate things. At the end of the day, just try not to mess with the area too much and keep it clean... that’s worked for me every time.
I hear you on the conflicting advice—it really does feel like everyone’s making up their own post-extraction playbook. I’ve always wondered if some of it is just habit or “this is how we’ve always done it” thinking. I do get a little nervous about rinsing too soon, though; dry socket sounds like a nightmare. But yeah, saltwater and soft food have never let me down either.
Honestly, I’ve wondered the same thing—like, did my dentist get their post-op tips from a fortune cookie or something? Last time I had a molar out, one nurse told me to rinse right away, and the next person said “don’t even think about it for 24 hours.” I just sat there holding my little cup of saltwater, totally confused.
Dry socket is the stuff of horror stories, for real. My cousin got one and wouldn’t stop talking about it for weeks... pretty sure he’s still traumatized. I played it super safe—no straws, no hot soup, and basically lived on mashed potatoes and applesauce for three days. Not the most exciting menu but at least I didn’t have any issues.
It does seem like some of this advice is just tradition passed down forever. But hey, if saltwater and soft foods work, I’m not messing with that combo. Sometimes I think dentists just want us to be extra cautious so we don’t end up back in their chair too soon.
