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:
What Can I Put in My Mouth to Stop Bleeding After Tooth Extraction
- 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.
How To Stop Bleeding After Tooth Extraction Home Remedies
There are a number of very effective homemade remedies people have used for centuries to stop or prevent pain and bleeding after tooth extraction. Two popular ones are:
- Warm Salt Water
- Clove Oil
How To Use Warm Salt Water For Bleeding After Tooth Extraction
People with pain and bleeding after tooth extraction can use salt water to rinse their mouths and gargle. This home remedy has long proven effective for cleaning the mouth, stopping bleeding and warding off infection. It’s fast, easy to do and inexpensive. Most people have salt somewhere in their cupboards. Just put a teaspoon or two of salt
into an 8 ounce glass of warm water to dissolve. After stirring it for a minute or so,
take some into your mouth. Slowly and gently swish the mixture around in your mouth and
over the area from which the tooth was extracted. Spit it out and repeat the process a few times. Doing this for a day or two will stop the bleeding and help prevent painful infections from developing.
How To Use Clove Oil For Pain And Bleeding After Tooth Extraction
Clove oil possesses both antiseptic and analgesic properties. This helps make it very effective for relieving the pain and discomfort people experience after having a tooth extracted. Clove oil reduces swelling and helps relieve the pain of sore gums or a dry
socket by numbing the area. To use clove oil, mix a few drops of it with a few drops of olive in a small container. Dip a cotton swab into the clove oil mixture. Dab the cotton swab on the tooth extraction site and hold it in place for a minute or two. This
helps increase absorption of the clove oil into the gum. Repeat the process every two or three hours if necessary to stop the pain and bleeding.
What Happens If Bleeding Doesn’t Stop After Tooth Extraction
After tooth extraction, it is normal for the area to bleed and then clot, generally within a few minutes. It is abnormal if bleeding continues without clot formation, or lasts beyond 8 to 12 hours; this is known as post‐extraction bleeding (PEB). Such bleeding incidents can cause distress for patients, who might need emergency dental consultations and interventions.