Oh I feel for you Raven, especially when the numbness wears off. If you have the stronger pain meds and need them, then take them. No sense in suffering. Hide all straws.

I wonder how long it will be bleeding ? I am sitting out blood. Changed the guaze and it just fills up with blood .

Are you on any medications that affect blood clotting or taking any supplements that cause blood thinning?

No not at all. I think it's slower now. My sister had hers yesterday and she didn't have any bleeding after the first guaze. It is not hurting much at all and the numbing is worn off now so that's good. I did call the office and left a message but it's after hours. I am sure it will be OK. He packed a collagen plug in it which is supposed to help it not bleed as much. It is a good sized whole lol.

Raven -- glad to hear the bleeding's slowing. When all three of my kids had their wisdom teeth extracted, they were told not to suck (on straws, ice, etc.) and NOT to spit. Apparently the act of spitting creates a similar sucking action that might open the area back up and interfere with clotting. Did the office not send you home with a 'care' guide for the first 24-48 hours?

Yes but it was just those things, no sucking on straws, no hot liquid, no teeth brushing or mouth wash. Etc. I actually coughed and that's when blood sprayed out. I went to wipe it up and there was a lot of it. I didn't spit as much as open my mouth and let it run out. It said to change the guaze after an hour or so which I did and when I did that there was more. But now the new guaze I put in an hour ago is not nearly as bloody so I think maybe when I had the little coughing episode that disturbed it.

I'd read the beginning, got sidetracked, and came back. I had a cracked molar extracted a few weeks ago, it had decided it didn't want to spend any more time in my mouth.

Straws are a no-no because they can disturb the blood clot and cause continuing bleeding, I'm glad you got that one straight. Hot is discouraged only while you're still numb because you could burn yourself and not know it.

The gauze should be oriented so that when you close your jaw, pressure is applied to the wound area. Keep your mouth closed to keep the pressure on it, that should stop bleeding.

There is a specific technique concerning how Advil (I think same as Motrin) and Tylenol can be taken in combination that can be as effective as stronger, by prescription pain medication. I'm not going to give any more information because instruction on that should come from your dentist/oral surgeon if it's appropriate for you. That's what I used for the next three days, as directed by my dentist, and it was very effective.

Food is best to go easy on for a few days, hunger or not. Getting food into the wound can complicate healing. Salt water flooding (without any or at least very gentle wooshing around) can help

Feel better soon.

I bet you're right...stop coughing, already! ;) I just checked the time stamp of your original post. When my kiddos came through right after surgery, they slept for another few hours before I had to go in and fish the first piece of gauze out .. yeah, absolute bloody mess. But as long as it doesn't continue to flow, it'll be okay. Oh, and one more instruction from the doc (who did all three kids, over a span of ~ 10 years apart: don't mess with the hole(s)! :)

ETA: We posted at the same time, Elmer. Our dentist always pre-prescribed liquid pain meds for the kids (which they never ended up needing, thankfully) -- no way they would've been able to choke down a pill.

Raven, I was going to ask the same as Elmer mentioned. Do you have enough gauze in your mouth you are exerting gentle pressure to help stop bleeding?

Yes I had a big wad like they showed me. It has finally stopped bleeding for the most part. I think the coughing was the culprit. The big wad of gauze was causing a gag reflex which set off the coughing. It happened to me in the chair when she tried to put the x ray film in my mouth too. I have had no pain so no need for the motrin or anything else. Which is good because I hate taking more medication than I have to. They ssaid I could have some soup so I am going to try a little soup liquid on the other side. I think it's OK now. Thanks eeveryone for the help and guidance! I will try not to cough again lol.

I'm glad you don't need the Motrin as it shouldn't be taken when there's bleeding after surgery of any kind. Every dental surgeon has a service that will call your doctor if it sounds like you are having a problem--they don't want you to end up in the hospital! Wasn't there a number given for after-hours? I hope you got to "eat" a little, Raven.

No other number, I did call the office number and left a message but I didn't get a response. I am doing very well now. Had a little soup juice and a yogurt smoothie and still no pain and no more bleeding. Yea!

I usually get the warning of 'keep your hands away and don't touch it!' Glad you're not feeling too much pain. Hopefully, it heals up fast.

I hope you're feeling better today, but don't be surprised if days 2-3 post extraction are rough. My pain got really bad about 48 hours later. The same day and even the entire day after were virtually pain free. I couldn't believe it! I had very little discomfort and was eating (nothing hard/sharp) with no problems at all.

Then day 3 came.... hoo boy!

Fingers crossed!

I just spoke with my dental assistant and she told me that same thing. Day 3 and 4 could be bad. Today I have virtually no pain, just an empty feeling there which feels weird. I had a good night with no problem. She said that my coughing was likely what caused the heavy bleeding and it had to re clot. I did exactly what I was supposed to do adding more fresh gauze.

I so appreciate each of you that helped me through my bleeding panic attack! It's great to feel someone is there and listening!

I'm very glad to read you're doing well, Raven. I'm really surprised there was no one for you to talk to after hours!

"I'm glad you don't need the Motrin as it shouldn't be taken when there's bleeding after surgery of any kind. "

The Tylenol-Advil (Motrin) combo I was taking was at the direction of the oral surgeon, an MD-DDS. He told me to start immediately when I got home. Bleeding stopped in about one hour. I followed his advice for 5 days and had no pain at all.

sjerin, are you suggesting his advice was uninformed or inappropriate? I don't think so.

Glad you are doing okay now.