First Aid tips for oral health

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Prolonged or Recurrent Bleeding after Extraction

 

The patient should be instructed not to rinse at all for 24 hours after an extraction (having a tooth pulled). Rinsing could wash out the blood clot forming at the extraction site. use of mouthwash can also be harmful due to its alcohol content.

Normal drinking is permissible. However, straws should not be used for 24 hours (the suction created in the mouth could also dislodge the blood clot).

Do not be alarmed if there seems to be a lot of blood oozing from the extraction site. Remember that the blood is mixing with saliva and therefore, it may appear that there is more bleeding than is actually the case.

If the bleeding is determined to be more than oozing (bright red blood) or is alarming the patient; the following is recommended:

• Place a sterile gauze square on the extraction site and have the patient bite continuously on it for 30 minutes. Do not disturb gauze during this time
• If the bleeding rather than oozing persists, wrap a moistened tea bag in a sterile gauze square and have the patient bite on it for 30-45 minutes. Repeat this procedure if necessary.
• An aspirin substitute* may be given for pain (dosage according to weight or age). Avoid aspirin as it reduces the blood's ability to clot.
• If bleeding cannot be controlled within an hour, contact the parent/caregiver and recommend they consult the attending dentist.