The astringent element of tannins causes blood vessels to shrink. In addition, tannins are also anti-septic and can kill bacteria, making them useful in preventing infections after extraction. The pressure you place on the teabag when you bite it down functions as a band-aide.
Bleeding is to be expected
If bleeding still has not stopped, place a teabag in lukewarm water, squeeze out excess water and wrap it in gauze. Bite down on the wet teabag for up to 30 minutes. The tannic acid in the tea bag should help to stop the bleeding.
The 'old tea-bag trick' refers to the practice of using a tea bag (or two) in replacement of gauze packs to deliver pressure and promote haemostasis to the extraction site. Tea bags contain astringent tannic acid which contributes to the contraction of damaged capillaries and accelerates clot formation.
If bleeding persists, a slightly moistened black tea bag can be a very effective substitute for the gauze (following the same instructions given for the gauze placement).
Place the tea bag over the extraction site and have the patient bite down on the tea bag for 30 minutes. The tannins in the tea will help stop bleeding quicker. Remove the gauze or tea bags when eating or drinking to avoid choking.
Coffee and Dry Socket
Unfortunately, drinking coffee can prevent that clot from forming or disturb a newly formed clot, leading to a painful condition known as dry socket. Dry socket is highly treatable, but it is quite unpleasant, and it can significantly slow down your overall healing time.
Dry Socket: Consuming hot beverages like tea or coffee after a tooth extraction can dislodge the blood clot that forms in the socket, leading to dry socket, which is a painful condition that occurs when the socket is exposed to air and bacteria.
When can I have something to eat? About an hour after surgery, you may remove the gauze sponges that have been placed in your mouth and have something to eat. Be sure to eat foods that are soft for the first 24 hours after surgery. Avoid hot foods and drinks for several hours after surgery.
The clot protects the bone during healing. If that blood clot gets loose or comes out of the socket, you may have a dry socket, which exposes the bone. A dry socket may last for several days and can cause severe pain. If you get a dry socket, your dentist can treat it with medicine.
Ice Cube and Gauze Trick
Some patients find more success with stopping their bleeding if they cool their mouth's temperature. One trick is to wrap ice cubes in gauze and place them on the extraction site. You want to avoid sucking on the ice cube or biting it.
After a tooth extraction, eat only soft or liquid form foods for at least the first 24 hours following the surgery. Do not vigorously chew anything. Avoid hard or crunchy foods that can further traumatize the extraction site and cause further bleeding. Do not consume hot liquids as they will dissolve the blood clot.
The first 24 hours - The first 24 hours after extraction are important, as this is when a blood clot will start to form at the extraction site. Blood clots are vital to your healing and protect your bone and nerve tissue. Since you just underwent oral surgery, bleeding is to be expected, and possibly a little swelling.
Don't clean the teeth adjacent to the wound area for the rest of the day, but you can start cleaning them the next day. Avoid allowing the brush to hit the extraction socket for the first three days. If your wound was stitched up, consider rinsing your mouth.
Healing will continue for approximately one to two weeks after surgery. During that time, as much as possible, you should avoid chewing any food on the site of the extraction, so you won't disrupt healing. However, you can start to transition to most of your usually consumed foods, simply chew carefully.
How will I know if my blood clot fell out? If you develop dry sockets, the pain will let you know that your wound is no longer protected. Swelling is also an indication you have lost your blood clot, as is the taste of blood in your mouth.
When the blood clot from the extraction site falls out prematurely (within the first 4 days after surgery), dry socket causes extreme pain that may radiate to the jaw, face, and ear. It also causes bad breath. The highest risk for this condition is between days 2-3 after tooth extraction.
Additionally, dairy products are harder for your body to digest as they contain casein protein, which slows down digestion significantly and increases inflammation throughout the body. This can delay the healing process and cause more discomfort.
After an hour or so, once the blood clot is formed, it's vital for any recovery process that you keep hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Be careful not to swish it about too much in your mouth and avoid drinking through a straw – any sucking action will disturb the newly formed blood clot.
While every patient heals at a slightly different pace, most people can begin drinking small amounts of coffee around 5 days after an extraction. If all goes well, within two weeks any swelling should subside and your mouth should be mostly healed. At that point, you can return to drinking your normal amount of coffee.
It is not unusual to have residual bleeding after tooth extraction for up to 24 hours. It is advisable to use an old pillow case as not to damage your favorite ones. Please remove the gauze when you eat or drink. Do not sleep with the gauze in your mouth.
While you could continue to use gauze, the moisture in the tea bag may make the site feel more comfortable to you, compared to having dry gauze rubbing against your gums. As mentioned, green or black tea is necessary. While some herbal teas contain tannins, those teas are not known for their effects on bleeding.
Yogurt is a nutritious high-protein food you can enjoy after dental surgery. It has a smooth and creamy texture that may help soothe and numb your mouth.
After your procedure, focus on drinking lots of water to facilitate healing and stay hydrated. Beverages like Gatorade, Powerade, and Pedialyte can also be great options to help you stay hydrated and heal up quickly.
Dry socket may be caused by a range of factors, such as an underlying infection in the mouth, trauma from the tooth extraction or problems with the jawbone. The condition occurs more often with wisdom teeth in the lower jaw than with other teeth. You are also more likely than others to develop dry socket if you: smoke.