So it happened — you finally made it through your wisdom tooth extraction. But before you get too excited, make sure to follow the guidelines provided by the oral surgeon. Otherwise, the aftermath of tooth removal will not look pretty, and you might have to revisit the dentist, clutching your jaw in pain. The dentist will put gauze on the extraction site, telling you to bite down on it. You might be curious as to when to stop using gauze after your wisdom tooth extraction. Don’t worry; you’ll find all the relevant information in this blog!
Steps to Properly Use a Gauze
Once your third molar has been removed, your oral surgeon will place a gauze on the extraction site. Moreover, they’ll instruct you on how to use the gauze, providing you with enough material that lasts long. Here is a brief overview of how to use gauze after wisdom tooth extraction:
- Take 2-3 pieces of gauze sized 2×2 and put them together.
- Fold the pieces together.
- Once more, fold the pieces in half.
- Now, cover the extraction site with the gauze.
- Bite down on the gauze for around 30 minutes.
- Continue changing the gauze until the bleeding stops completely.
What Happens When You Bite into a Gauze
After your tooth has been removed, the extraction site will start bleeding since it is a fresh open wound. Your oral surgeon will place the gauze and tell you to bite down, which helps start the process of blood clot formation.
Biting down on the gauze will apply physical pressure on the wound, which helps put an end to the bleeding. With the help of the gauze, the bleeding stops, and you can look forward to healthy blood clot formation — which is an essential part of your recovery following the wisdom tooth extraction. Therefore, the bleeding should stop in order for proper blood clot formation. Thanks to the gauze, managing the bleeding becomes easy, and the clot is more likely to stay in place.
When Is It Time to Stop Using Gauze After Wisdom Tooth Extraction
The purpose of using gauze after a wisdom tooth extraction is to ensure that bleeding stops. Once the goal is achieved, you can stop using the gauze. In general, you need to use gauze for around an hour or until there is no more bleeding. Make sure to keep changing the gauze every 15 minutes, and if the bleeding continues after an hour, consult your dentist.
Every time you change the gauze, you should notice lower blood flow until, finally, there is not even a single drop visible on the white surface. This way, you can also keep a check on the blood clot and if it has started developing or not. It’s possible that you may have to wear the gauze for 2 to 3 hours because the clot might take that long to form.
A safe and quick wisdom tooth recovery requires one to follow the aftercare instructions. Thus, do not neglect the aftercare instructions, which include:
- No spitting for the first at least 24 hours of blood clot formation
- Rinse your mouth and allow the water to dribble out
- While rinsing, make sure you’re gentle and not rough
- Follow your oral surgeon’s instructions regarding saltwater rinses
- Avoid using a straw or any other activity that requires suction
What’s Next?
While wisdom tooth removal brings quite a lot of pain, it gets easier after the bleeding stops, and you remove the gauze. If you’re wondering when to stop using gauze after wisdom tooth extraction or have another query, Aava Dental is here to your aid. Dial (818) 792 4500 to talk to us or head to our dental office at 12820 Victory Blvd, North Hollywood, CA 91606.