Hi @newtonguecancer, I’m so relieved that you went ahead with the surgery right away instead of waiting. Now it’s over and the procedure sounds like a success! Except for the sore tongue…that’s going to be with you for a few days, I’m sorry to say.
Stay with your current pain regimen. The worst of the pain will be for possibly 10 days? Maybe less. But the tongue is a very tender area. You know how it feels to just bite your tongue. Fortunately the mouth does heal quickly but this is a deep wound so it might take a little longer.

Oral hygiene is crucial right now, even though putting things in your mouth feels like the last thing you’ll want to do. Soft foods, smoothies and things like that will be easier to eat for a couple of days instead of solid foods. You can try a straw for water but only if it doesn’t create too much suction when you’re drinking.

Boil a quart of water and then store that in the refrigerator. Daily you can use that water to make a salt water rinse. Let it get to room temperature and then use 1/4 teaspoon of salt to 6 ounces of water. You can use that to rinse for 30 seconds, then spit. Do that a couple of times per day.

Orajel mouth rinse with benzocaine can help numb the tongue so you can eat better.
For now, switch to a children’s toothpaste without mint. Burt’s Bees has a strawberry flavor that’s not too bad. And get a children’s extra soft toothbrush. Much easier to brush and not bump your tongue.

Regular visits to your dentist can help you look for oral cancer. Hopefully this is the end of that for you but regular checks are important. You can also do them at home with once a week or monthly checks in a mirror to note anything different in your mouth. From reading some of your previous replies, you’ve had this happen once before so vigilance is key to early detection. Report anything that looks suspicious.

Did your surgeon plan an appointment for a followup with him or tell you to see your dentist?