I’M BLEEDING! WILL A TEA BAG STOP IT NOW?

Most everyone loves hot tea on a cold day or to cozy up at the end of a long work week. Aside from their many herbal benefits, tea bags have been found to have other great uses, including stopping bleeding. Dental surgeons even recommend using a tea bag on the surgical site if it’s still bleeding after an hour of using gauze. Imagine that! Tea bags can have amazing natural chemicals that will heal so that you can sit back, relax and get on with your day. Here are some helpful hints to get your bleeding to stop so you can move along and enjoy all that life has to offer. 

How long does it take a tea bag to stop bleeding? 

Bleeding is to be expected after the first day of dental surgery, and sometimes after an entire hour of gauze on the surgical site, it is STILL bleeding! You will want to bite down on the wet tea bag for 30 minutes. It sounds like a long time, but most people will watch their favorite show or curl up with a good book to pass the time. Your bleeding will be over in no time! 

Will all tea bags stop the bleeding? 

Not all tea bags will stop bleeding. You will need to get a black or green tea bag because these are the ones that include tannins. What you can use any tea bag for is soothing the surgical site. The moisture in any tea bag will feel more comfortable to you than gauze, but only use other tea bags once the bleeding has commenced because any old tea bag will not stop the bleeding. Tannins are also antiseptic, which means that they will kill nasty bacteria and prevent the site from becoming infected. The tea bag will absorb blood at the site and act as a wound dressing for the bleeding area. 

What is in a tea bag that stops bleeding? 

Black and green tea contains tannic acid, a well-known astringent. An astringent causes blood vessels to shrink, and tannins can also prompt the blood to clot up so that it gathers together and end the active bleeding. Herbal teas are great, but they do not stop bleeding. 

How to use a tea bag for tooth extraction at home 

Here are the steps to use a tea bag for extraction at home. (And no, you won’t be making a cup of tea)

Boil it

You will want to wait until your water has reached a simmering temperature, then insert the tea bag and let it sit there for about 2-3 minutes. 

Cool it

After this, let it cool to a comfortable temperature to place on your skin (aka not seething hot). Now you will be ready to place it! 

Place it

Place it directly on the bleeding spot and let it soak. The components of the tea bag should be on the skin and be able to work their magic. 

Let it simmer

Now you wait! Take your time to relax and enjoy the soothing sensation of the warm tea bag in your mouth. You will leave it here for up to 30 minutes or until the bleeding subsides. Now you will have a blood-free mouth and can move on gracefully with your day! 

Tea bag versus gauze 

The extraction site will typically be bloody and tender after an extraction. A tea bag is a good choice because the alternative (wet gauze) can be uncomfortable, ooze for a day afterward, and still allow bleeding in the mouth. It also doesn’t help stop the growth of microbes (which reduces the chance of infection) in the mouth like a tea bag will.

Using a tea bag is a natural remedy that can stop the formation of blood clots, and when you bite down on a tea bag, it can increase the pressure at the surgical site, which means faster healing! Gauze is dry and yucky, so I promise you that using a tea bag will be much more comfortable in the mouth! 

Other things that will help you post-surgery

After a dentist visit, you are likely to have some temporary discomfort in the mouth. Using cold things, such as ice cream and an ice pack, can do wonders for soothing the area. You will want to avoid extremely hot foods and spicy foods. You will want to avoid strenuous activity and take some time to relax and heal.

Warm salt water rinses can help keep food particles away from open wounds and reduce swelling. On the day of surgery, you may be feeling nervous and worried. But never fear…the tea bag is here! The healing process might seem long and gruesome, but I promise you that once you are all healed, you will be grateful for your dental surgeons and their commitment to care and a clean, healthy mouth for all. 

What’s the downside? 

Unfortunately, as amazing as the wildly effective components of tannins are, they can also stain your teeth. You can help prevent this by drinking tons and tons of water. This will dilute the effects of the blackening components of the tannins and wash off the residue. 

Conclusion

As you can see, using a tea bag as an all-natural remedy can work wonders post-dental surgery. There are many benefits, including antibacterial properties, soothing qualities, and qualities that will put excessive bleeding to a halt. If you are looking for ways to stop the bleeding, using a black or green tea bag might be the perfect solution!