Bleeding gums after a tooth extraction, dental implant or periodontal surgery can be very worrisome but it is to be expected after dental surgery. It’s important to identify and address excessive or abnormal bleeding and to contact your dentist or dental surgeon if you have any questions or concerns. Bleeding is usually the worst for the first 24 hours and can look much worse than it really is. When blood mixes with saliva, it looks like blood… lots of blood. Here are a few tips on how to stop the bleeding on your own. Show Table of Contents
What Causes Bleeding After Dental Surgery?Typically, oral surgery requires some amount of cutting into the gum tissue. This means, that even with the gentlest of dentists, patients will experience some bleeding. Often, the bleeding is controlled while still in the dentist office or surgical suite but many patients find that they must deal with a certain amount of bleeding throughout the first 24 hours as well. Although most of the time, a patient can get their own bleeding to stop fairly easily with damp gauze and pressure or with a black tea bag, others may deal with some prolonged or excessive bleeding. These can be caused by:
Bleeding following dental surgery is common however there are a few things that a patient can do beforehand to minimize post-surgical bleeding.
Dental Implant, Tooth Extraction and other Periodontal Surgery AftercareThe key to feeling better quick is to take extra good care of yourself during those first few days post implant, tooth removal or other oral surgery. We recommend that you follow your own dentist’s post-op care instructions but below are some of our main guidelines to help patients experience a smooth recovery. Control Pain (swelling and stiffness) – Swelling and stiffness is common for about 7-10 days following oral surgery, however most patients feel much better after the first 24 hours. Slight bruising may also appear which is also normal. Discuss with your dentist or Periodontist about the best pain relief medication for you and take it as discussed. During your first 24 hours post oral surgery, we encourage our patients to rest with their head propped up with pillows. Patients should also use an ice pack on the outside of their cheeks in 15 minute increments throughout that first day of recovery to minimize discomfort and swelling. What to eat – Grocery shop a day or two before your tooth extraction or oral surgery. That way, it will be at your home and readily available for you when you want it. There are two things to consider when planning your meals ahead for after oral surgery. One is that your mouth will be sore and the other is that you do not want to disturb the procedure site. For these reasons, we suggest soft foods or liquids. This can be soups, smoothies, yogurts, pudding, protein shakes, mashed potatoes and ice cream. Vitamin C can also help your body heal more quickly so we suggest taking a supplement for a few days post surgery. Chose items that do not require much chewing as your jaw will likely feel stiff and a bit sore. The sucking motion can dislodge a blood clot and hamper healing. It is best to avoid crunchy foods for about six weeks after surgery. Salt water rinse – Keeping your mouth clean after getting dental implants or having your wisdom teeth extracted will help ward off infection. However, you should not brush your teeth until cleared to do so by your dentist so rinsing with salt water or a prescribed disinfectant mouth wash is important to do after that first 24 hour period is up. We recommend rinsing at least 4 times a day, especially after you eat. The salt water rinse mix can be made with a teaspoon of salt dissolved in a cup of warm water. Dr. Michael also recommends a prescription mouth rinse, Chlorhexadine, twice a day. Do not smoke or use straws – Basically, you want to stay away from sucking on anything as this can dislodge the blood clotting over the wound. If the blood clot breaks away, a patient can get a painful condition called dry socket. Dry Socket Symptoms – If the blood clot dislodges or dissolves, it can leave the nerves under the tooth socket exposed to food, liquid, air and any other element that may enter the mouth. This can cause a lot of pain and leaves the site wide open to infection. Typically if a patient has a dry socket, they will start feeling pain that radiates through their jaw within the first five days following surgery. No need to worry, call your dentist and they will get you in to place a medicated socket dressing in the extraction site. This will give almost immediate relief, however, the application usually needs to be repeated once or twice – about every other day until pain is gone and the blood clot has formed in the socket. Antibiotics may need to be prescribed for infection so call your dentist should you develop new pain after a couple days post surgery. Complications and When to Call your Dentist:Serious complications after tooth extractions and oral surgeries are rare but call your dentist if you experience symptoms that concern you. Always call your dentist if you develop a fever post surgery, experience excessive bleeding or swelling or have uncontrollable pain. We understand that patients do not look forward to oral surgery and want to heal up as quickly as possible. That should be any dental team’s goal too so if you have any questions about bleeding after getting dental implants, having your wisdom teeth removed, or any other periodontal surgery, please give your dentist a call right away! Oral Surgery at Sarasota DentistryHank D. Michael, DMD has been performing oral surgery,
dental implants and tooth extractions since 2001. He is a fellow of the Misch International Implant Institute and a fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists. If you are concerned you may be losing a tooth, or already have missing teeth, please call
941-929-7645 to schedule a consult today.
Dr. Michael and his staff focus on providing painless dental services in a welcoming atmosphere. His dental expertise includes general dentistry, dental implants, cosmetic dentistry, oral & I.V. sedation, full mouth reconstruction, teeth bleaching, veneers, laser dentistry, metal-free crowns, inlays/onlays, and dentures to enhance both your health and appearance. |