Medical knowledge, Patient Education
Bleeding After Dental Procedures
A small amount of bleeding is common after dental procedures. Dental procedures do not always cause bleeding in every person.
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All of your health problems.
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All medicines and supplements that you are taking, especially blood thinner (anticoagulant) medicines.
What are the causes?
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Minor procedures. These include:
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Teeth cleaning (prophylaxis).
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Deep teeth cleaning (scaling and root planing).
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Any routine dental treatment that involves procedures that irritate the gums.
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Major procedures. These include:
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Tooth removal (extraction).
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Gum (periodontal) surgery.
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Dental implant placement.
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Removal of tissue for testing (biopsy).
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What increases the risk?
You are more likely to develop bleeding after a dental procedure if you are taking anticoagulant medicines.
What are the signs or symptoms?
The main symptom of this condition is bleeding after a dental procedure. Blood mixes with saliva, so there may seem to be more bleeding than there really is.
Some bleeding after dental treatment may be a sign of underlying gum disease. If unexpected bleeding happens after dental treatment, discuss it with your dental care provider.
How is this diagnosed?
This condition may be diagnosed when bleeding occurs after dental procedures.
How is this treated?
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Place a surgical sponge or bandage (dressing) over the area that is bleeding.
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Clean the area and close your wound with stitches (sutures).
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Use an electrical device (cautery) or a laser to control the bleeding.
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Prescribe or apply a medicine to help control bleeding.
Follow these instructions at home:
Medicines
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Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your dental care provider.
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Some over-the-counter medicines, especially pain medicines, may increase the risk of bleeding after dental treatment. Check with your dental care provider before taking any of these medicines.
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Your dental care provider should talk with your health care provider before stopping any anticoagulant medicines that you are taking. Stopping your medicine could lead to serious health problems, such as a heart attack or stroke.
General instructions
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For 24 hours or longer after your procedure, or as told by your dental care provider:
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Do not spit or rinse your mouth.
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Do not drink hot beverages.
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Do not drink with a straw.
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Do not use any products that contain nicotine or tobacco. These products include cigarettes, chewing tobacco, and vaping devices, such as e-cigarettes. If you need help quitting, ask your health care provider.
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Do not eat hard foods or foods with sharp edges during the first 2–3 days after your procedure. These foods include nuts, pretzels, and chips.
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For major procedures, especially after extractions:
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Bite down firmly on moist gauze over the area for at least 30 minutes after the procedure.
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If bleeding does not stop after that time, continue biting firmly on moist gauze or a tea bag for 30 more minutes, or as long as your dental care provider recommends.
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Keep all follow-up visits. This is important.
Contact a health care provider if:
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Your bleeding gets worse, is severe, or does not stop.
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You have a large blood clot where the bleeding stopped.
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You have a fever.
Get help right away if:
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You have chest pain.
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You have trouble breathing.
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You feel light-headed, dizzy, or confused.
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You have trouble speaking.
These symptoms may represent a serious problem that is an emergency. Do not wait to see if the symptoms will go away. Get medical help right away. Call your local emergency services (911 in the U.S.). Do not drive yourself to the hospital.
Summary
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A certain amount of bleeding is common after some dental procedures.
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You may be able to stop the bleeding on your own. If you cannot stop the bleeding, contact your dental care provider or your health care provider.
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You have a higher risk of bleeding after a dental procedure if you are taking blood thinner (anticoagulant) medicines.
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Your dental care provider should talk with your health care provider before stopping any anticoagulants that you are taking. Stopping your medicine could lead to serious health problems such as a heart attack or stroke.
This information is not intended to replace advice given to you by your health care provider. Make sure you discuss any questions you have with your health care provider.
