When to Stop Using Gauze After Tooth Extraction
Just had a tooth pulled or saw the dentist? If so, you were most likely instructed to bite on some gauze to help absorb the blood. But, how long should you keep that gauze on? Do you take it off at any point, or just leave it on until it is better? Finally, when to stop using gauze after tooth extraction (based on experience — yes, I have been in your shoes and I will clue you in.
Allow me to take you down the rabbit hole of tooth extraction aftercare and hopefully save you some valuable pain-in-the-arse time, like I wish I knew instead of having to find out the hard way. Well, if you are wondering how long to stay with the gauze and what signs to look for when it’s time – keep reading. After reading this post, you will have way more confidence in your healing process.
What Exactly Happens After Tooth Extraction?
When you get your tooth pulled, blood clots in the cavity left behind; Your body is going through a healing process. During this time, sponges / gauze helps to minimize the bleeding. The pressure created by biting down on the gauze aids in the formation of a clot, which is an essential part of healing.
I remember getting my own wisdom teeth removed, the dentist gave me a piece of rags and told me to bite on it for 30 minutes after the procedure. You want to limit the damage but, of course, you do not want it inside too long. It may be difficult to find that sweet spot, which is why we should take a closer look at the indicators telling you when it is time to stop using gauze.
How Long Should You Use Gauze After Tooth Extraction?
You may be wondering how I wrote this, right? When I had my wisdom teeth extracted, they told me to bite down on the gauze but I did not know when to release. Normally, you can dispense with the gauze anywhere from 30 to 45 minutes later, when you see that the bleeding has lessened.
Everyone is different, nonetheless, listen to how excessive the bleeding is. The bleeding ceased fairly quickly, in my case. Others, not so much longer. If after 45 minutes you still see a lot of blood do not panic, change the gauze and bite again.
Signs That It’s Time to Stop Using Gauze
The Bleeding Has Stopped or Slowed Down
When bleeding has subsided considerably or ceased altogether, it is safe to discontinue use of the gauze. Change it if the gauze is saturated and bloodied.
The Blood Clot is Forming
When you notice that a blood clot is developing in the socket, then it is a good sign that it’s time to stop using gauze. This will appear as a dark sticky clot in the place of extraction. This will create a necessary clot for the healing process, and this clot should stop the bleeding. After my extraction, I did not notice the clot starting until around 45 minutes afterward. And when I noticed that, I’d stopped using the gauze.
No More Active Bleeding
Other times when you can feel comfortable and are not having active bleeding—where there is no more blood coming through the gauze. A small amount of oozing or the gauze is only a little bit stained — if this occurs, then the worst of the bleeding is over. Then, you can stop using gauze at this point.
You Feel Comfortable Without It
After they took my tooth out, I realized that the gauze was overkill (at least after things stop bleeding). If you’re comfortable with removing it and if everything appears dry, that is okay! Try not to leave the gauze in too long.
What Happens If You Keep the Gauze In Too Long?
I thought leaving the gauze in longer was preferable, but I learned the hard way that it is not. If the gauze is left to sit for longer than required, it can be detrimental rather than constructive. The clot itself can be disturbed, and it becomes a possibility that the clot gets dislodged. Another thing you could do is if you leave the gauze in for too long, it could irritate the gum tissue which will delay healing.
E.g., I learned from experience that if you left gauze in longer than a few hours, it didn’t speed up the healing process. And honestly, it just made that part awkward and hurtful — mostly when the gauze dried out and stuck to the wound.
How Often Should You Change the Gauze?
After a tooth extraction, I was told to replace the gauze every 30 to 45 minutes or if it became saturated with blood. If you are still bleeding, continue changing the gauze until either the blood stops or diminishes.
How to Change the Gauze Properly
Before handling the gauze, be sure to wash hands thoroughly.
Gently take away the old gauze, without displacing the little blood clot building up.
Put a fresh layer of gauze on the extraction site and bite down tightly.
Keep the gauze in position for 30 minutes or so.
You should also be careful not to overdo it and follow the instructions. I recall being terrified to do the gauze change myself but it was so straightforward and made a world of difference.
What If the Bleeding Doesn’t Stop?
And other times, that bleeding simply won’t stop after a few hours of rest. Don’t panic. As for me, it happened to me once. The best thing to do was keep pressure on the area by biting down on gauze and giving it more time. If the bleeding is excessive and doesn’t stop after a couple of hours, you should reach out to your dentist to make sure everything is healing as it should.
You can experience some bleeding and oozing for up to 24 hours following your extraction; this is quite typical. Nonetheless, if you are anxious, please contact your dentist.
Tips to Help Speed Up the Healing Process
Rest and Relax
What I found helped a lot after my extraction was to remain calm and take it easy. Do not engage in any kind of physical activity as this can boost blood circulation and trigger the bleeding to resume. For the first couple of days, I made sure to take it easy and allow my body some time to recuperate.
Keep Your Head Elevated
In the first 24 hours, it is advisable to keep your head raised, even while sleeping. This pulls a little pressure away from the extraction site, keeping gravity working to stymie bleeding.
Apply Ice Packs
To decrease swelling and also aid with pain management, you can use ice packs on the outside of your cheek. Switching between 15 minutes on and off ice helped a lot.
Avoid Smoking and Spitting
This is why smoking and spitting can undo the clot and restart the bleeding. Trust me, I learned the hard way. Do these and you shall keep your mouth silent for a couple of days.
Eat Soft Foods
Eat soft foods and avoid anything too hot or hard on the first day and after pulling them. I survived on mashed potatoes, soups, and smoothies. These were gentle on the extraction site, and I didn’t have to worry about aggravating it.
Conclusion: When to Stop Using Gauze After Tooth Extraction
Again, that’s the question — when should you stop using gauze after tooth extraction? And the answer is listening to your body. When the blood starts to slow down and the clot is forming, stop applying your gauze. For me, I was able to stop around 45 minutes, but we all heal differently.
Do not keep the gauze for long and you should change it time to time until your bleeding stops. Most importantly, practice post-extraction tips and give your body time to recover.
Your ultimate game plan will prepare you to crush recovery. So just keep going following these steps above and you won’t care about when to stop using gauze to stop the healing process. You’ve got this!