certain steps you can take at home to help reduce your discomfort and speed your recovery.
Facial exercises. As the nerve in your face begins to function again, doing simple exercises such as tightening and relaxing your facial muscles may make those muscles stronger and help you recover more quickly.
Massaging your forehead, cheeks, and lips with oil or cream may also help.
Eyecare. If you can’t blink or close your eye fully, your eye may become dry. A dry eye can lead to sores and serious vision problems. To help protect the eye and keep it moist:
• Use your finger to close and open your eyelid often throughout the day.
• Use eye drops (“artificial tears”) or ointment. Those that contain methylcellulose are a good choice and don’t require a prescription.
You may want to use drops during the day and ointment at night while you sleep. Ask your doctor how often to use the drops.
• Wear an eye patch while you sleep, and wear glasses or goggles the rest of the time.
Mouth care. If you have no feeling and little saliva on one side of your tongue, food may get stuck there, leading to gum disease or tooth decay.
Brush and floss your teeth often and well to help prevent these problems.
To prevent swallowing problems, eat slowly and chew your food well. Eating soft, smooth foods, such as yogurt, may also help.