Okay so I went into surgery this morning to get my wisdom teeth, an extra tooth, and a baby tooth removed. A few minuets ago (many more then 4 hours) the tooth sockets still was bleeding a pretty steady flow and there was this really big clot at the socket, I i was licking at it and it came out. now the bleeding stopped. Why? I thought the clot was to stop the bleeding....
Answers (1)
Don't forget to ice your cheek and take your pain medication even if it is only Tylenol. Wisdom tooth removal can be problematic and its easier to stop pain before it gets started. You should not have been messing with the clot and surely your dentist or oral surgeon told you that.
"As you know, the clot serves a valuable purpose in protecting the bone and underlying tissues after a tooth is extracted. In its absence, a low grade infection known as dry socket can ensue. For that reason it is common for your dentist to advise practices that will protect the clot and the healing process, such as not drinking with a straw for some time period after the tooth is removed. With regards to how long the clot needs to remain in place, it is usually anywhere from a few days to a week or so. It is important to follow the advice of your dentist to make sure that you heal appropriately. Failure to do so can result in the pain and discomfort of a dry socket and may persist for some time. Fortunately, this is preventable in most cases by following your dentist's advice, and can be treated quickly if it occurs. The first sign of this is increased pain, so please continue to work closely with your dentist, and discuss this question with him or her."