Emergency dentist · Great Barr, Birmingham
Bleeding after a tooth extraction
A little oozing or pink saliva for a day is normal. Steady bleeding that fills your mouth is not. Here’s how to stop it, and when to get help.
- GDC-registered dentists
- CQC-registered practice
- Prices agreed before treatment
How to stop the bleeding
- Sit up and spit out any loose clots gently. Don’t rinse hard.
- Roll a clean, damp gauze pad or cotton handkerchief and put it directly over the socket.
- Bite down firmly for 20–30 minutes without checking. Keep steady pressure the whole time.
- If it’s still bleeding, repeat with a fresh pad. A damp tea bag (ordinary black tea) can help the blood clot.
Get help if
- Bleeding hasn’t slowed after two rounds of firm pressure (about an hour). Call 0121 582 4557, or NHS 111 if we can’t answer.
- You’re losing a lot of blood, feel faint or dizzy, or you take blood thinners and it won’t stop. Go to A&E or call 999.
For the first 24 hours
- No rinsing, spitting, hot drinks, alcohol or smoking. Each can dislodge the clot.
- Eat soft, cool food on the other side, and rest with your head raised.
- After 24 hours, rinse gently with warm salty water after meals.
Increasing pain two to four days later, with a bad taste, can be a dry socket. That needs a dressing, so book in. More in our aftercare guide.
Cost: the emergency consultation is £54. If you need treatment, we tell you the price before we start, and nothing is done without your agreement. All fees are on our prices page, taken from The Dentist West Midlands’ price list.
Frequently asked questions
How long should a socket bleed after an extraction?
Light oozing can last up to a day. Active bleeding should stop with 20–30 minutes of firm pressure. If it doesn’t after two attempts, get help.
Can I rinse my mouth?
Not for the first 24 hours. After that, gentle warm salt-water rinses help keep the socket clean.
Do I need to be registered with you?
No. We see emergency patients who aren’t registered with us, whether or not you have a dentist elsewhere.
Ask us to call you back
Leave your number and a few words about the problem and we’ll call you back as soon as we can. If you’re in severe pain or have swelling, please call 0121 582 4557 now — or pick an appointment time online.
In pain now?
Call 0121 582 4557 — we answer whenever we can, and if we miss you we text you a booking link. Or pick a time online, any time of day.