One of the most common reasons for a tooth extraction is when a damaged, broken or decayed tooth cannot be repaired by a dentist. However there could be many other reasons for the extraction of a tooth. After this procedure, you may notice some pain, discomfort, swelling or bleeding in your gums for a while. Therefore you may need to take some pain killers, eat soft food and follow a few aftercare procedures, as specified by your dentist.
It is usual to experience some bleeding for about a day or two after the extraction. Cuts in the mouth will probably bleed more than cuts on the skin. They take longer to heal as they cannot form scabs by drying out. A doctor may ask you to gently “bite on” some gauze for about forty five minutes, to apply pressure to the area, allowing the blood to clot. A small amount of bleeding for a day or so is normal, but the bleeding should taper off after that. If the bleeding continues, you can repeat the “biting on” technique, this time using a moistened teabag. Regular black tea contains Tannic Acid, which is very effective in the formation of blood clots.
You will need to avoid disturbing the formation of the blood clot on the wound. Apply an ice pack or suck on some ice cubes as the coldness of the ice will reduce any swelling and will constrict the blood vessels in the mouth, enabling them to form a clot. For the swelling alone, you can apply a warm compress. Twenty four hours after the surgery, you can rinse your mouth gently, with salt and warm water, to keep that area clean. As for food, for the first couple of days, eat foods that are cool and soft. You can gradually go back to eating normal food, preferably after the pain, bleeding and discomfort go away.
After a tooth extraction, you need to ensure that you do not use a straw, spit, rinse your mouth vigorously or smoke. Avoid the use of a mouth wash as well. Any of these activities could disturb the formation of a blood clot in the mouth, causing more bleeding. Hot liquids like coffee, tea or hot soup can also dissolve blood clots. Dissolving or dislodging a blood clot could lead to the formation of a dry socket. In case you experience bleeding for more than three days after the extraction, please contact your dentist or doctor immediately, who can check the wound properly.