While most dental procedures can be done in a single visit, getting dental implants requires two steps to restore your beautiful smile. It starts with the surgical insertion of a titanium post into your jawbone, which needs to heal by integrating into it as if the post is the root of a tooth. The process takes several months, after which you can have a crown placed on the post. Recovering from the first part of the procedure can take a few days, which is why it helps to know about these three things that you need to do.

Rinse Out Your Mouth

One order that you'll receive from your dentist is to keep your mouth as clean as possible, since you do not want bacteria getting into the post's surgical site. Thankfully, it's as simple as rinsing out your mouth with a simple saltwater rinse. You can make the rinse on your own by mixing salt (½ teaspoon) into a glass of water. You swish that cleaning solution around your mouth, and the salt helps extract bacteria that could be in your gums.

Keep in mind that you should not rinse out your mouth too aggressively, since all you need to do are gentle swishes. Vigorous swishing could dislodge blood clots and cause you to get dry socket.

Take Pain Medication

You should plan to have pain medication on hand before the surgical procedure so that it is ready to go. Plan for there to be pain once your anesthesia wears off, and to take the pain medication immediately when you get home. Ibuprofen is a great choice for a pain medication, since it has anti-inflammatory properties that reduce swelling and pain at the same time. This will help the healing process be comfortable and improve how quickly you heal.

Get Plenty Of Rest

The best thing you can do after having the implant surgery is to rest your body. Plan to spend some time in bed or in a recliner, and take a couple of days off from work so that you do not have to worry about being active. Keep your head elevated, use ice to help with swelling, and you should be ready to be active again in a couple of days.

These are just a few of the things you should be doing to recover after receiving dental implants. Reach out to your dentist for more tips that you should follow.