A tooth or molar has been extracted and you experience bleeding after that of the side of extraction became swollen.

Treatment: continuous bleeding after an extraction can go on for hours, but is seldom life threatening. To avoid becoming nauseated, you should not swallow the blood but spit it out. And please so not rinse your mouth, because by doing so you will keep the wound open and the bleeding will continue. To stop the bleeding, you may make a tampon by rolling up tightly a paper handkerchief or a piece of kitchen towel until you get a diameter f about 1 to 2 centimeters. You may make a few at the time. You may hold this tampon in place by clenching your jaws for at least one hour. You may also hold it in place with your fingers. However, when you experience severe swelling of your check and or part of your mouth, you may call you GP or visit the ER of the nearest hospital.

Please note: never ever take pain medication which contains (acetyl) salicylic acid when experiencing swelling or bleeding. These type of pain killers cause your blood to coagulate very slowly which causes longer bleeding. Paracetamol does not influence this coagulation process, so you can choose this. Also smoking and alcohol slow down the coagulation process and should be avoided too. And please to not keep probing the wound with your tongue no matter how tempting this is! In case you use medication on a regular basis, please tell you dentist before extraction.