Bleeding after a tooth extraction: what to do

Bleeding patterns vary. What matters is whether blood is only lightly staining saliva or whether active bleeding is continuing from the socket.

• Blood-stained saliva or mild oozing soon after extraction.
• Active bleeding from the socket that fills the mouth or soaks gauze.
• Bleeding that stops and then restarts within hours.
• Bleeding later in the healing period, which may suggest infection or disturbed healing.
• Bleeding that is heavier because of medical conditions, prescribed medicines or physical activity.

1. 1Sit upright and stay as calm as you can.
2. 2Roll a piece of clean cotton or gauze, moisten it with clean water or saline, and place it directly over the extraction socket.
3. 3Bite firmly and keep steady pressure for 20 minutes before checking.
4. 4Do not keep lifting the gauze to look at the socket during that 20 minutes.
5. 5If you are not taking anticoagulant or antiplatelet medicine and bleeding continues, repeat firm pressure once.
6. 6If bleeding still does not stop, seek emergency dental or NHS 111 assessment.

After bleeding stops, avoid disturbing the clot. Avoid smoking, alcohol and exercise for 24 hours, keep your head raised if possible, and follow the aftercare instructions from the dentist who removed the tooth.

• Do not stuff loose tissue or cotton wool fibres into the socket.
• Do not rinse vigorously or spit repeatedly while bleeding is active.
• Do not press for only a few minutes and then keep checking.
• Do not place aspirin or any other medicine directly on the socket.
• Do not independently stop anticoagulant, antiplatelet or other prescribed medicine.
• Do not ignore bleeding that continues, restarts or is heavy.

Urgent dental or NHS 111 assessment is needed when socket bleeding does not stop after the recommended pressure steps, restarts, or is affected by blood-thinning medicine or medical conditions.

• Bleeding continues after 20 minutes of uninterrupted firm pressure.
• Bleeding continues after repeating pressure once when you are not taking anticoagulant or antiplatelet medicine.
• Bleeding fails to stop or restarts while taking anticoagulant or antiplatelet medicine.
• Bleeding restarts later or comes with worsening pain, swelling, bad taste, fever or feeling unwell.
• You cannot keep pressure in place safely or cannot manage the bleeding at home.

If you cannot access your own dentist and need urgent help, use NHS 111 or 111 online. NHS 111 can advise the next step but does not guarantee an appointment.

• Heavy bleeding from the mouth that cannot be controlled with firm pressure.
• Fainting, collapse, confusion or severe weakness.
• Breathing difficulty, choking risk or blood affecting the airway.
• Major facial trauma or suspected jaw injury.
• You cannot remain safe while travelling for urgent dental assessment.

A dentist may inspect the socket, identify where bleeding is coming from, and check medical-history or medication factors that may affect bleeding.

Depending on assessment, they may clean the socket, apply a haemostatic dressing, place sutures where clinically appropriate, review aftercare advice, or refer for medical care if needed.