Remember to Take out Your Dentures Every Night

If you are feeling apprehensive about your upcoming dental implant surgery, then you can help alleviate your fears by making a proactive plan for your pain management and recovery. One of the most important aspects of your recovery plan is to decide how you will treat any pain or discomfort you may experience after your procedure. Thankfully, there are many available options that you can stock your medicine chest with before the day of your surgery, including:

Over-The-Counter Numbing Gel

One of the best things you can get to have on hand right after any dental procedure is some OTC numbing gel. This numbing gel is sold for dental pain and teething for young children. Applying the numbing gel on sore gums can get you through any painful times until your other medications have a chance to work.

Table Salt

Table salt mixed in warm water has been used for a very long time as an antiseptic dental rinse. The salt naturally soothes pain and helps to stave off an infection. (Note: If you are on a salt-restricted diet or are diabetic, please talk to your dentist before using salt rinses.)

Soft Toothbrush 

While you need to brush your teeth in the days after your implant surgery, you want to do so in a way that doesn't cause any further irritation to your gums. The best thing you can do is to use a very soft toothbrush and either baking soda or a simple paste-style toothpaste. This type of toothpaste tends to be the least irritating because it contains a limited number of ingredients and no whiteners or breath enhancing agents.

Water Flosser

It is really important that you floss your teeth even during the first days after your dental implant procedure. The best way to floss after surgery is to use a water flosser. Water flossers are inexpensive and can be purchased at any pharmacy.

Over-the-Counter Pain Medication

You should not take OTC pain medications after your dental implant surgery unless your dentist recommends that you do so. Some OTC pain medications can cause excessive bleeding and other unwanted side effects after surgery. 

Prescription Pain Medication

Finally, since the dental implant procedure causes some trauma to your gums, your oral surgeon may recommend that you take a prescription pain medication during the first few days after your surgery. If you do not want to have to visit the pharmacy after your surgery, see if your dentist will call in the prescription ahead of time so that you can pick it up before your procedure.

For more tips to relieve pain after getting dental implants or another procedure, talk to a dentist like John P Poovey DMD PC.