While periodontal surgery can be a great thing when it comes to protecting you your teeth and your gums, you are still going to have to undergo a recovery after the procedure. No recovery is going to be fun, but they can be made to be more bearable. If you are about to undergo periodontal surgery, there are some things that you can do to make your recovery process as easy and as smooth as possible for you. This article will discuss 3 tips for recovering from periodontal surgery. 

Have Foods Ready To Go

There are only going to be certain foods that you can eat after your surgery. However, because you likely aren't going to be in any state to go out and buy these foods after you have received your surgery, it is going to be in your best interest to get stocked up on these foods a couple of days before your procedure. This will include soft foods that require little to no chewing, such as soups, smoothies, jello, milkshakes, mashed potatoes, pudding, apple sauce, macaroni and cheese, rice, etc. Having these foods on hand will make it easy for you to get the nutrition that you need after your surgery without causing any unnecessary pain when chewing and swallowing. 

Use Ice Packs

Swelling is going to be one of the side effects of the surgery, but thankfully there is something that you can do to help combat this. While your medications are going to help, you can also help to reduce swelling by using an ice pack on your face. Whenever the swelling is bothering you, you can place the ice pack on your cheek. Keep the ice pack in place for as long as it is comfortable, usually not too long, and then take it off. You can then put the ice pack on again, as soon as the swelling begins to bother you. Doing this for the first few days, when the swelling is at its worst, can really help with the recovery process. 

Brush Carefully

While brushing your teeth is going to be important after your periodontal surgery, it is something that you need to do very carefully. Softly brush your teeth, and avoid the areas where your grafts were done, if they are feeling especially tender and/or bleeding. Your dentist may also prescribe you a special mouthwash to use that will help you to heal and avoid infections. Contact a dentist, like http://www.thefamilydentist-lakeland.com, for more help.