This bleeding can usually be controlled by placing a piece of moist clean gauze over the empty tooth socket and then biting firmly on this gauze for 45 minutes. Make sure that the gauze is positioned so when you apply pressure to it by biting that the gauze in turn applies pressure directly to the extraction site. It is both the firm pressure and maintaining this pressure for a constant 45 minutes which are important factors in this technique. A moistened tea bag can be a very effective substitute for gauze. A component of tea is tannic acid.
Tannic acid can help in the formation of blood clots.
If a small amount of bleeding persists after 45 minutes then repeat these instructions. Page 2 What to expect before the tooth extraction procedure. The principles behind tooth extractions. Page 4 What to expect during the tooth extraction procedure. About the blood clot which forms in the empty tooth socket.