How long should you bleed after getting a tooth pulled

The process of tooth extraction is relatively easier nowadays due to the use of medicines and sedatives. The patient feels no pain, just a bit of pressure on the jaw while the tooth is pulled out. However, what if excessive bleeding after tooth extraction occurs? Generally, it would be scary. During the first 12-24 hours, it is normal to have some bleeding from the area. Patients get scared; usually, when the blood mixes with saliva in the mouth, it adds to the quantity. Read along as we will discuss a few easy tips on how to reduce this bleeding.

Whether you had a tooth extraction, dental implant, or any other oral surgery, the following tips will help you stop bleeding.

Wet gauze

Take a small piece of gauze and wet it with some water. Next, fold it into a tiny square and place it into the empty socket. Apply pressure on the gauze by biting down on it for 45 minutes to an hour. The method is quite effective and stops bleeding in an hour.

Keep the head raised

After extraction or surgery, keep the head higher if you lie down. When the head is higher than your heart, bleeding slows down as the blood pressure reduces. You can easily do it by using a pillow under your head for support while resting or sleeping.

Black tea bag

The black tea leaves contain tannic acid, which is a coagulant. Hence, placing the tea bag over the area of bleeding will speed up the blood clotting. Besides, the teabag must be wet as a dry one is of no use.

Rest and take a break

After the surgery or extraction, rest for some hours as it is necessary to prepare your body for the next task. Bleeding might increase if you exercise or do strenuous activity, so avoid it for a few days until the area returns to normal.

Take care while eating and drinking

Few hours after the procedure, once the effect of sedations starts reducing, the person might feel hungry. Start having a soft diet or fresh fruit juices. Avoid using a straw as that would cause excessive bleeding by dislodging the clot formed. Eat a meal that doesn’t need chewing, or you can have warm soup, milkshakes, and smoothies as they are healthy and filling.

Smoking and drinking

Don’t smoke and drink for a few days after the dental surgery or implant. It would adversely affect the area that is healing but can cause excessive bleeding or a dry socket. A dry socket forms when the nerves present in the tooth exposes to whatever we eat and drink. In this case, bacteria can easily travel to the nerves and cause extreme pain.

These are a few easy ways to control excessive bleeding after tooth extraction at home. However, if you feel the condition is not normalizing, contact the dentist immediately. Various health reasons are possible for delays in the blood clot. Call Spring Cypress Dental at 281-256-3222 to schedule your appointment.

FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE DAY:

• Do not spit. Use a tissue to wipe your mouth as needed, or swallow your saliva.
• Do not use a drinking straw. Drink straight from the cup.
• Do not smoke.
• Keep fingers and tongue away from the surgical area.

Spitting, the use of a straw, smoking, and poking the surgical area can dislodge the blood clot that is forming and will cause bleeding from the area. Also, smoking can increase the chances of an infection or a dry socket.

BLEEDING:

Some minor bleeding is expected after surgical tooth removal. It will usually subside quickly, and stop within an hour or two after surgery. A little oozing is normal and may persist for several hours.

• Keep gauze on the surgical area with some pressure (biting) for 30–45 minutes.
• Remove the gauze after 30–45 minutes and replace it with a new piece of gauze if you are still bleeding. It is important to make sure the gauze is directly on the surgical site. Firm pressure for another hour should stop the bleeding.
• If you find that this is not working after your third attempt, use a moistened tea bag instead of the gauze. The tannic acid in tea will help form a clot and stop the bleeding.
• If all else fails, call the office.

SWELLING:

Most patients will experience some swelling after surgery in the mouth. It may be mild or severe and is different for every patient. The swelling may increase for the first 24–48 hours before it starts to go away. It may last for several days. Some bruising may also develop on the face.

• Use an ice pack on the cheek or face next to the surgical site. Keep it on for 15–20 minutes, then off for 10 minutes, and repeat until you go to sleep. Start again the next day.
• Sleep with your head elevated slightly (above the heart). This will keep swelling down.
• On the third day, change to moist heat instead of ice packs. This will bring the swelling down quicker.

DIET:

You may eat soft foods such as mashed potatoes, pasta, cottage cheese, soup, or scrambled eggs as soon as the local anesthetic wears off, although you’ll likely only feel like eating ice cream or sipping on cool fluid for the first day or so. Please do not drink through a straw for the first week after surgery.

You may resume a regular diet as soon as you feel up to it, although it is recommended that you avoid carbonated beverages for 2–3 days, and avoid crunchy foods like popcorn, chips, peanuts, etc., for 2 weeks after surgery.

Finally, please stay well-nourished and hydrated.

ORAL HYGIENE:

You may start rinsing tomorrow, very gently, with some warm salt water (1 tsp of salt in 8 oz. of warm water). Do this after meals and before bed for one week. Do not use alcohol-containing mouth rinses for the first week or so as it will burn. If you get food in a tooth socket, do not use a Waterpik® or toothbrush; we will help you rinse and give further instructions at your follow up visit. You may brush your teeth, avoiding the surgical area, either tonight or tomorrow morning. Be gentle! Do not spit or rinse forcefully.

SUTURES:

Unless told otherwise, the sutures used during your procedure are dissolvable and will fall out on their own. This generally occurs in the first week after surgery, but timing varies from 4–10 days.

SEDATION AND GENERAL ANESTHESIA PATIENTS:

If you had anesthesia during your procedure, you should remain under the supervision of a responsible adult for the remainder of the day.

Also, your IV site may be tender to the touch, and you may even develop a small bruise. A heating pad and elevating your arm (resting it on a pillow) may help with tenderness in the area. Please call your doctor if the pain persists or the IV site becomes swollen.

MEDICATIONS:

You were probably given one or more prescriptions for medications. Take all medications as directed on the bottle. Call us if you experience severe nausea or diarrhea, or cannot swallow your pills.

Antibiotics: Continue until the bottle is empty. Do not quit halfway.

Pain Medicine: Usually it is necessary to take narcotic pain medication in a scheduled fashion (every 4–6 hours) for the first 24 hours and as needed thereafter. Remember that narcotics can make you drowsy, so no driving, swimming, operating machinery, or drinking alcoholic beverages while you are taking them.

You may wean yourself off of the narcotic medication and substitute 500 mg of acetaminophen (Tylenol®).

If directed to do so, you may use ibuprofen, 600 mg, every 6 hours while awake, for the first 4–5 days.

ACTIVITY:

Once you are no longer taking narcotic pain medication, you may resume your normal activities as you feel up to it. Go easy at first with exercise and recreation, and increase your activity slowly over several days back to your normal routine.

Please follow these instructions as closely as possible. They are designed to help you heal quickly and comfortably.

QUESTIONS?

We are here for you.

If you have a question about your procedure or treatment plan, our center has 24-hour surgeon availability. If you would like to speak to your surgeon, please contact us at any time.

During business hours, please call our office. After hours, please call our office, and our answering service will page a surgeon. We’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

How much bleeding is OK after tooth extraction?

Can gauze pull out blood clot?

Should I still be bleeding 3 days after tooth extraction?

Is it OK to swallow blood after tooth extraction?