Natural Mouthwash For Treating Your Discomfort After Dental Implant Surgery

After dental implant surgery, you may have some swelling and slight pain in your gums at the incision sites. If so, use the following homemade mouthwash to naturally treat your discomfort as well as help prevent infection.

What You Will Need

Before you make your mouthwash, gather the following supplies and ingredients.

• Small glass or cup
• Half of a cup of lukewarm water
• Three tablespoons of table salt or two tablespoons of sea salt
• 5 drops of peppermint oil

Peppermint oil has two functions in this mouthwash. It serves as an antiseptic to help kill the germs around your incision sites as well as provides pain relief. You can find peppermint oil in pharmacies, department stores, and natural health stores.

The salt also kills germs, thanks to its antibacterial properties. It also helps pull out the inflammation, helping to decrease the swelling and discomfort. If you decide to use sea salt instead of table salt, a lesser amount is needed because it tends to be stronger than regular table salt. You will also need to add additional time to dissolve it, since the crystals are larger and more compact.

Directions

Once you have everything you need, follow the directions below to make and use your home remedy.

1. If your dentist recommends brushing your teeth, do so first.
2. In a small glass, mix together the water and salt. Let the mixture sit for about five to 10 minutes to give the salt time to dissolve. You may need to add an additional five minutes if using sea salt.
3. Once the salt is at least partially dissolved, add the drops of peppermint oil, stirring well.
4. Rinse your mouth with half of the solution for about a minute, then spit it out. This first rinsing helps loosen and remove any food particles stuck on and in between your teeth.
5. Use the remaining liquid to rinse your mouth for an additional minute, then spit it out.
6. Wait 10 minutes to give the mouthwash additional time to work. The residual solution will continue to soak into your gums to provide relief and kill bacteria.
7. Once the time is up, rinse your mouth with cool water for about a half a minute. 

Using the above mouthwash twice a day while you recover from your procedure can help relieve some of your symptoms. However, if you start having increased pain or have discharge, you may want to contact your implant dentist as soon as possible to discuss your treatment plan.

Click here for more on implant dentistry or do an online search.