Dental anesthetic is a necessary component of most dental procedures. While it’s great for reducing pain, it also leaves us with some unpleasant side effects. From swelling to general numbness, most people want to recover as soon as possible. Our article is going to help you do that by teaching you how to make dental anesthetic wear off faster in four easy tips.
What Is Dental Anesthetic and Why Is It Used?
Before moving on to address the question of how to make anesthesia wear off faster and how to wear off numbness from dentist faster, we’re going to focus on identifying what anesthetic is. We’re also going to help you learn why your dentist likely chose to use it during your latest dental procedure.
In short, an anesthetic is any type of substance that is given to help reduce your sensitivity to pain. As any person who has had dental work done can attest to, the delicate root and pulp area under your teeth are full of sensitive nerves. When poked, prodded, or otherwise exposed, this area can be quite painful.
For this reason, your dentist likely decided it was best to use an anesthetic to make you more comfortable during your latest visit. The type of anesthetic that they choose to use depends on several factors. Some examples of those factors include specific medication allergies that you may have, your overall individual pain tolerance, and the location and complexity of the dental work being completed.
Although there are multiple types of anesthetic that your dentist may use, the most common one used in most modern dental procedures is called lidocaine. This is an important fact to keep in mind for those of you who were wondering how to stop numbness from novocaine.
Novocaine is no longer used by most dentists. The replacement, lidocaine, is known for having much fewer adverse side effects associated with it and is generally considered the much safer alternative.
How to Make Dental Anesthetic Wear off Faster: 4 Tips
1. Think Twice Before Requesting More
The first tip we’re going to discuss to help you learn how to make dental anesthetic wear off faster is the importance of knowing your pain tolerance. Your dentist will likely offer you additional shots of anesthetic for longer and more complicated procedures.
The reason for this is that each person’s pain tolerance is going to be different from other patients. Your dentist will want to ensure that you are as comfortable as possible throughout the procedure. However, opting for an additional shot of lidocaine not only increases the level of pain relief, it also increases the duration of unpleasant side effects like numbness.
Your best bet is to stick with a manageable level of pain. It’s normal to feel the dentist poking and prodding while they work. By choosing not to opt for an additional shot, you can help reduce the amount of medication in your system. This directly translates to a quicker recovery period.
2. Light Cardio Activities
Another tip that many have found helpful is the use of light cardiovascular activities. The reason for this is that increases in your heart rate can help move the medication from the treatment area faster. This results in a decrease in facial numbness for most individuals.
However, there are many important facts to keep in mind before trying this method. First and foremost, talk to your dentist first and ask them for their advice. They may want you to avoid certain types of activity to avoid aggravating the treated area.
A common activity that they may recommend against is weight lifting. The reason for this is that weight lifting can put a strain on your jaw muscles and aggravate the treated area too much. This can result in increased pain in the treatment site. Just remember to stick with whatever recommendations that they give you for best results.
As for the most effective and safe exercise types, low-impact exercises are generally preferred. This can include simple walking and the use of devices like an elliptical. Whatever you decide to use, just remember to start slow and to take it easy while you are recovering.
3. Light Heat Therapy
Some users have had limited success with light heat therapy. The reason this is thought to work is that it helps to expand the blood vessels in the treated area. This results in the medication being removed from the area in a much more timely manner.
However, there are instances where heat therapy may do more harm than good. People who have problems clotting may experience increased bleeding. Just like with exercise, talk with your dentist first before trying this method.
If they give you the okay to try it, just remember to apply heat sparingly and for short periods of time. A towel that just came out of the dryer is an excellent option for this type of use. Heating pads are sometimes another viable option as well. Just remember to use the lowest heat setting possible.
4. Ask About Professional Solutions
While there are some options that you can try from home, the most effective solutions are likely offered by your dentist. These types of products are designed to help reverse the anesthesia that was used during your dental procedure.
While there are many different brands available, one of the most commonly available is called OraVerse. OraVerse is a type of injection that is used to reverse anesthesia in soft tissue areas like your lips and tongue.
Unfortunately, anesthesia that is applied to more difficult areas is not likely to be improved by this medication. However, your dentist is the best one to ask about these types of products. In many cases, they may have an option that can help reduce your recovery period significantly.
Conclusion
Now that you have learned the basics of how to make dental anesthetic wear off faster, you should be adequately prepared for your next dental procedure. Just remember that your dentist is always there to help and that they are your best source of professional information. If you have any tips you would like to share on how to make dental anesthetic wear off faster, feel free to post them in the comments area.
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