Is Bleeding Something To Worry About After A Tooth Extraction?

After tooth extraction, bleeding is normal as the area where your dentist extracted your tooth continues to heal. However, the bleeding should not be excessive. If you are bleeding a lot, contacting your dentist about what you should do about it is crucial. 

When a Tooth Extraction Is Necessary

A tooth extraction is something that a dentist will try to avoid by helping you combat oral decay. But if your tooth has decayed substantially or become damaged, an extraction could be the only option.

When a tooth is severely infected, you may need to remove the tooth to eliminate bacteria. The bacteria that grows in your mouth can affect other areas of your body and spread to other teeth. But after your dentist extracts your tooth, you'll need to focus on your recovery and stop any bleeding.

Why Bleeding Is Normal

Bleeding occurs after tooth extraction and should stop after blood clots form. To ensure the blood clot forms, follow your dentist's instructions. For instance, your dentist will likely tell you to apply gauze after the tooth extraction.

Eat soft foods and avoid anything acidic to avoid making the bleeding worse. Liquid foods are the safest to consume. If you are experiencing a lot of swelling, place an ice pack where your dentist extracted the tooth, which will alleviate pain and help stop the bleeding.

What Not to Do

It's most important not to engage in any sucking motions. For example, you won't want to drink using a straw because the action of drinking from the straw can increase the odds that the extraction site will start bleeding again. Resting as much as possible and avoiding moving around will keep the blood clot in place.

How to Stop Bleeding that Won't Stop

For most tooth extractions, the bleeding shouldn't last very long. However, a wisdom tooth extraction can bleed for much longer because of how complicated the extraction is.

If the extraction site continues to bleed, avoid chewing. Apply pressure for several minutes. Don't bite down on the gauze when applying pressure. You may want to raise your head if the extraction site is still bleeding and you want to sleep. Doing so will reduce the blood flow to your mouth.

When to See a Dentist

If a blood clot will not form or keeps becoming dislodged, you may need to visit your dentist. Something could have gone wrong during the tooth extraction, and your dentist could fix the problem.

Contact a local dentist to learn more about tooth extractions.


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