Bleeding
A certain amount of bleeding is to be expected following surgery. Slight bleeding, oozing, or redness in the saliva is not uncommon. Excessive bleeding may be controlled by first rinsing or wiping any old clots from your mouth, then placing a gauze pad over the area and biting firmly for 30 minutes. Repeat if necessary. If bleeding continues, bite on a moistened tea bag for 30 minutes. The tannic acid in the tea bag helps to form a clot by contracting bleeding vessels. To minimize further bleeding, do not become excited, sit upright, and avoid exercise. If bleeding does not subside, call for further instructions.
Elevated heart rate and blood pressure can contribute to prolonged bleeding. Remember to take your high blood pressure medications as you normally do and make sure your pain control is adequate. Pain increases your heart rate and contributes to excessive bleeding. If you are having pain, you cannot properly bite firmly and sustained on your gauze pads, so this also leads to more bleeding. With good pain control and firm sustained pressure exactly over the wound, most bleeding stops within several hours from surgery. Often with impacted wisdom teeth, the oozing can last until the early evening following a morning surgery.