How To Help With A Bleeding Tooth Socket

Step 1: You will need

Step 2: Make the person comfortable

Bleeding from the mouth can be alarming so it’s important that you reassure the injured person and make them comfortable. If possible, sit them at a table where you can put your first aid supplies.

Step 3: Wash your hands thoroughly

Wash your hands thoroughly using soap and dry them. Put on a pair of disposable gloves if you have them.

Step 4: Use a gauze pad

Then place a thick gauze pad across the empty socket and ask the injured person to bite down on it. The pad should be just thick enough to prevent the person’s teeth from meeting.

Step 5: Apply pressure

Make sure the person keeps biting on the pad for 10 minutes.

Step 6: Replace the pad

If the pad becomes soaked in blood, replace it with a new one. Blood soaked pads should be sealed in a water tight plastic bag and placed in a bin to stop the blood coming into contact with other people.

It’s important to remind the injured person to let any blood run out of their mouth as swallowing it may make them feel sick and vomit.

Step 7: Apply further pressure

If the bleeding has not stopped, apply pressure for another 10 minutes.

Step 8: Avoid washing mouth and hot drinks

After thirty minutes the bleeding should have stopped, but you’ll still need to avoid washing out your mouth or drinking anything hot for 12 hours as this may disturb a clot.

Step 9: Seek medical advice

If the bleeding has not stopped after half an hour, you should seek dental or medical advice.