It is extremely important to read and follow your post-operative instructions after having a tooth (or teeth) removed. You will leave the office with gauze over the extraction site(s). You will also be given extra gauze to take home with you. If your gauze becomes too saturated with blood, you will want to throw it away and replace it with a damp new piece of gauze, which you can fold up and put on top of the extraction site. Bite down on the gauze firmly.
If the gauze continues to become saturated and does not seem to be slowing down, you can bite down on a moistened tea bag. Tea has tannic acid which helps to form blood clots.
Do Not:
- Chew on the gauze
- Change the gauze too frequently
- Spit or rinse
- Suck on the extraction site
- Exercise for 48 hours
- Drink hot liquids
- Smoke
- Blow your nose
It is normal to have blood saturating your gauze. Just change it if it becomes too saturated. The important point is to apply pressure to control the bleeding. This is done by biting down firmly on the gauze or tea bag. And remember, bleeding is normal after surgery. Excessive bleeding is not.
If your bleeding is excessive and does not appear to be slowing down or stopping, please call our office at (206) 561-2345.
