If emergency care is not needed, the following steps will protect the wound and protect you from another person's blood.

1. Wash your hands well with soap and water, if available.
2. Put on medical gloves before applying pressure to the wound. If gloves aren't available, to apply pressure you can:
   • Use many layers of fabric, plastic bags, or whatever you have between your hands and the wound.
   • Have the person hold their own hand over the wound, if possible, and apply pressure to the injured area.
   • Use your bare hands to apply pressure only as a last resort.
3. Have the person sit up and tilt their head forward with the chin down. This will help any blood drain out of the mouth, not down the back of the throat. Swallowing blood can cause vomiting.
4. Remove any visible objects that are easy to remove. Remove any chewing gum from the mouth.
5. Remove any jewelry from the general area of the wound.
6. Do not attempt to clean out the wound at this point.
7. Press firmly on the wound with gauze or a clean cloth.
   • If there is a loose tissue flap in the mouth, return it to its normal position. If necessary, hold the flap in place with gauze or a clean cloth.
   • If you don't have gauze or a clean cloth, use the cleanest material available.
   • If there is an object in the wound, apply pressure around the object, not directly over it.
8. Apply steady, direct pressure for 10 to 15 minutes. This can seem like a long time.
   • Resist the urge to peek after a few minutes to see if bleeding has stopped.
   • If blood soaks through the cloth, apply another one without lifting the first.
9. Stop the bleeding from various parts of the mouth.
   • Inner lip. Press the bleeding site against the teeth or jaw or place a rolled or folded piece of gauze or clean cloth between the lip and gum. When bleeding from inside the lip stops, don't pull the lip out again to look at it. The person should avoid yawning or laughing, which may make the bleeding start again.
   • Tongue. Squeeze or press the bleeding site with gauze or a piece of clean cloth.
   • Inner cheek. Place rolled gauze or a piece of clean cloth between the wound and the teeth.
   • Tooth extraction. Follow any instructions given to you by your health professional. If you don't have the instructions, bite on gauze or a piece of clean cloth to control bleeding. If pressure doesn't stop the bleeding, try biting down on a moistened tea bag for 10 to 15 minutes. Avoid spitting, using any form of tobacco, and using straws, which can make bleeding worse.
10. If needed, continue direct pressure and get help.
    • If moderate to severe bleeding hasn't slowed or stopped, continue direct pressure while getting help.
    • Mild bleeding usually stops on its own or slows to an ooze or trickle after 15 minutes of pressure. It may ooze or trickle for a little longer.
    • Do all you can to keep the wound clean and avoid further injury to the area.
11. Watch the person so they don't swallow any gauze or cloth that is in the mouth.
12. Do not put a bandage across the mouth.
13. Watch for signs of shock.