Time For Dental Implants? 3 Tips That Will Ease The Recovery Period
If you've got a dental implant procedure planned, you need to be prepared for the post-operative recovery time. The first day following your surgery, you'll need to spend most of your time resting in bed or on the couch. Try to avoid doing anything strenuous, as this could result in additional swelling and bleeding. Once you start feeling better, you'll want to get back to your normal routine. However, it's important that you take things slow for the first few days following implant surgery. Here are a few simple tips that will help you transition through the recovery period.
Move Your Jaw
During the first full day of recovery, you'll want to rest your mouth as much as possible, which means that your jaw won't get much movement. Unfortunately, that means that your jaw muscles might tighten up. Once you start moving your mouth again, you might notice that your jaw muscles don't want to move as freely as they once did.
To loosen up your jaw muscles, take the time to get them moving. Slowly open and close your mouth, stretching a little wider each time you open. Once you can open your mouth wide without discomfort, begin moving your jaw from side-to-side. Repeat this several times a day until your muscles are relaxed and free from discomfort.
Reach for the Ice
While most of the pain and discomfort will be gone after the first day, you may still have some residual swelling that should be cared for. You can reduce the swelling by reaching for the ice. Fill two resealable plastic bags with crushed ice, wrap the plastic bags in soft towels, and place them against your face. You can also use bags of frozen vegetables to relieve the swelling.
Rinse
If you're still experiencing mild discomfort a few days after your surgery, you can relieve the discomfort by rinsing your mouth with salt water several times a day. The salt water will help reduce swelling and provide pain relief to the affected area. Fill a mug with about 8 ounces of warm water and add 1 tablespoon of salt. Mix well to dissolve the salt and then rinse your mouth with the solution.
Now that it's time for your dental implant surgery, be prepared for the recovery period. The tips provided here will help reduce the discomfort you'll be experiencing for several days following the procedure. Be sure to follow any post-operative instructions that your dentist will provide you with, as well.