If you will be having dental implants installed this week to replace the teeth that you lost due to decay, then you will be pleased to learn that there are many things you can do to help control any post-surgical pain that you might experience, including:

Using an Over-the-Counter Topical Anesthetic Gel

If you are waiting for your pain medication or other pain relief option to work and are in a lot of pain, then you can apply some over-the-counter topical anesthetic gel directly to your gums. You can purchase anesthetic gel at any pharmacy or grocery store in the section near where you find toothbrushes and toothpaste. If you happen to have a baby in your house, then you can also use their teething gel because it is the same medication you can purchase for adult use.

Using a Frozen Vegetable Bag for an Ice Pack

Rather than using a stiff blue ice pack on your sore cheek or jaw area, instead use a bag of frozen peas or other vegetables. Drop the bag of veggies onto your counter before you wrap it in a towel and apply it to your face. This will loosen the individual pieces in the bag so that the small sized vegetables will mold to your face much better than a stiff ice pack can. Don't apply the frozen vegetables directly to your face because doing so can cause frostbite.

Using a Salt Rinse

For mild pain and irritated gums, you can mix a glass of salt water and use it to rinse out your mouth. A salt water rinse is a good natural antiseptic to help prevent a post-surgical infection. The salt will work to dull the pain, and you can rinse with the salt water as often as you wish. However, you should discuss using salt water rinses with your physician if you are on a salt-restricted diet because using a rinse can introduce extra sodium into your body.

Take Your Prescription Pain Medication as Prescribed

Finally, having dental implants installed is a major surgery and can be painful for the first couple of days post-surgery. For this reason, you should not be a hero and avoid taking your prescribed pain medication. In fact, your recovery period will be shorter if you take your pain medication as prescribed because the lack of pain will allow your gums and jaw the ability to heal. 

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