4 helpful ways to manage dental surgery pain

There are ways that patients can manage and treat dental surgery pain at home so that they remain comfortable throughout the healing process.

If you're having a serious procedure, your doctor will most likely prescribe you pain medication. While many people are hesitant to take prescription pain killers because they often cause drowsiness, taking them as prescribed once you're home can ensure that you don't feel the worst of your pain once the anesthetic wears off and your mouth is beginning to heal.

• You should also be sure to take antibiotics on time, if you were prescribed them, to ensure that the surgery site does not get infected.

One of the most important parts of recovering from any surgery is rest. After all, your body has gone through some physical trauma, and now it needs time to heal. By staying off your feet and not putting your body through any significant hardship, you are allowing your body to focus its energy on healing the surgery spot, ultimately making your recovery time much shorter and less painful.

Once your doctor has given you the okay to eat, make sure that you choose foods that are easy on the mouth.

• Some of the best post-surgery foods include things such as mashed potatoes, bananas, soups, stews and other soft choices.
• While you may be hungry after being off solid foods for a while, it's important not to put too much stress on your mouth right away, or else you may experience a resurgence in pain or discomfort at the surgery site.

An effective way to ease dental surgery pain is to ice the outside of your face near where the surgery was done.

• Apply ice packs for 15 minutes, take a 15-minute break and repeat.
• You can use both store-bought frozen gel ice packs, or simply put ice cubes in plastic bags and wrap them in soft cloths.
• This will not only make the pain more bearable, it will often reduce swelling, making you look less like a chipmunk throughout your recovery.

Recovering from a dental surgery doesn't have to be a pain. Listen to what your dentist has to say and follow a few simple steps to make sure you feel your best after surgery.