How to make your gums stop bleeding after tooth extraction

Patients need tooth extractions due to various reasons. For example, they may need them because of dental trauma or impacted wisdom teeth. It’s essential to care for your mouth after a tooth removal to ensure a fast and healthy recovery. The first 24 hours post-surgery are the most important, and you must be extra careful during this time. In case you have persistent bleeding after a tooth extraction that won’t stop, head to your nearest dentist so we can take immediate actions to minimize the bleeding and discomfort.

This article explores some useful tips to help minimize the bleeding after a tooth extraction. However, everyone’s situation can be different and may require special attention. This makes it important to discuss your recovery plans with Rodeo Dental & Orthodontics so we can provide you the best care according to your unique needs.

Here are some aftercare guidelines that will bring you to ease after an extraction:

Stop a tooth extraction from bleeding

  • Using gauze is the best way to stop severe bleeding. If the tooth extraction is still bleeding, you can control the flow by placing gauze on the tooth socket. Take a clean gauze and make it slightly wet, and place it on the top of the extraction site. Make sure you fold the gauze into a square shape. This is important because the square shape helps with reducing the bleeding.
  • How long do you need to keep the gauze in after your tooth extraction? Firmly bite on the damp gauze for about an hour, ensuring the gauze is placed in the correct position and pressure is exerted on the tooth extraction site.
  • Stop bleeding from the tooth extraction with a teabag. Placing a teabag on the tooth extraction site is an effective way to stop bleeding. This is because tea contains tannic acid that helps develop a blood clot that is essential for healing. Place the teabag in a similar way to the gauze and wait for its magic.

Protect Your Blood Clot

  • Blood clot formation. For a healthy recovery, make sure the blood clot develops after your tooth removal and stays within the extraction site. Don’t do anything that might dislodge the blood clot. Otherwise, it can lead to a dry socket, which is an extremely painful condition and prolongs the healing process.
  • Protecting a blood clot development. Stay away from alcohol and hot liquids after your tooth extraction. Also, avoid spitting or rinsing vigorously. The pressure difference in the mouth can disturb the blood clot; thus, avoid any movement that may lead to painful results. Sucking with a straw and smoking can turn things worse for you. Also, refrain from sneezing with an open mouth or blowing your nose. Furthermore, don’t play any wind instruments for the first few days.

Minimize activities that make it difficult to control bleeding

  • Avoid physical activities. For the first 48-72 hours after a tooth extraction, avoid strenuous work and bending. Also, avoid picking up heavy items. This is an important part of tooth extraction aftercare.
  • Elevate the head. When sleeping, use an extra pillow to elevate your head. Keeping the head above the heart will help minimize increased blood pressure and bleeding.

Be ready for swelling.

  • The gum tissues undergo dental trauma after a tooth extraction. Unfortunately, this can result in swelling and sensitivity. The intensity of swelling will vary from person to person and can be minor or severe.

Smoking is a NO!

  • What happens if you smoke after getting a tooth pulled? Smoking after a wisdom teeth removal can lead to further complications such as excessive bleeding. For the first 24-48 hours after your tooth removal, avoid smoking.

Revise your eating habits

  • For the first day one to two days after your wisdom teeth removal, avoid any hard to chew or crunchy foods as they can damage the tooth removal site and result in more bleeding. Instead, eat only soft and easy to chew foods or liquids such as fresh juices or milkshakes. Be gentle while chewing and be easy on your mouth and teeth. Moreover, don’t drink hot liquids such as tea and coffee; avoid alcoholic drinks such as beer and wine as they may disrupt the blood clot.

Contact us for more tooth extraction aftercare tips!

In case your tooth extraction doesn’t stop bleeding, and you’re experiencing severe pain, immediately visit an emergency dentist near you. Our experts can provide instant care to help you find relief!

Bleeding gums after a tooth extraction procedure is fairly common amongst patients but it can be quite worrisome. It is very important to identify the cause and stop excessive or abnormal bleeding if it occurs. Icon Dental Center, Everett, and Seattle says it is important to get in touch with a dentist immediately if this happens.

Bleeding is usually excessive during the first 24 hours, so make sure that you wait at least a day before taking any of the steps mentioned below. 

  • Keep The Head Elevated
  • Apply a Wet Gauze on the Affected Area
  • Rest Plenty
  • Bite on Black Tea
  • Choose What You Eat Wisely

Keep The Head Elevated

  • Bleeding can easily be slowed down if the blood pressure is restricted by keeping your head elevated. Use bed pillows to achieve this and remain comfortably lying for at least an hour.

Keeping your head higher than your heart lowers the blood pressure which will restrict the bleeding from the affected area. You can even try and sleep with your head elevated if the pain has subsided but the bleeding doesn’t stop.

Apply a Wet Gauze on the Affected Area

  • Dampen a piece of gauze with water and roll it up or fold it into a square and then place it on the empty tooth socket or the affected area. Now bite your teeth on the gauze and apply firm pressure and let it be there for at least 45 minutes or an hour. 

If gauze is not readily available in your home, you can also use a folded paper towel. By following this method, you should see a significant reduction in bleeding within 60 minutes.

Rest Plenty

  • After any kind of dental surgery, implant, or tooth extraction, resting is very important. Rest plenty for a couple of days following the procedure and this should help clot the blood quicker. You’ll also feel a lot better by just resting.

If it is possible, let your work know that you will be unavailable for a few days before you head out for any kind of dental procedure.

Bite on Black Tea

  • You can also use a black tea bag to subside the bleeding. However, it is important that the teabag is wet enough and the tea is made off black leaves that contain tannic acid. This will help stop the bleeding faster than using a gauze.

Apply pressure on the tea bag for at least 30 minutes before easing down. 

Choose What You Eat Wisely

  • There is a lot of food and drinks that negatively impact the teeth and tooth extraction. One of the most common mistakes our patients make is that they decide to drink fluids using a straw. According to dentists at Icon Dental Center, Seattle, drinking fluid from a straw can dislodge the blood clot.

Apart from drinking from a straw when you’ve gone through tooth extraction, dental surgery, or implant, also make sure that you do not smoke because it will spread harmful chemicals in your mouth and may dislodge the blood cot as well.

  • Avoid carbonated beverages such as soda, and chewy foods such as candy, or anything that is sticky in nature. It is best to keep yourself to soft foods only. Try to consume soups, yogurt, banana, and other food that are not hard and you’ll recover faster.

If you feel unusual pain after a day or two from the procedure, don’t forget to consult your dentist immediately. You can also call us at any time to get a consultation or book an appointment for a follow-up visit.

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