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

• 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.

For consultations or bookings, call us at (206) 225-2882 for our Seattle Dentist Office and (425) 337-2400 for our Everett Dentist Office.