Toothache

"Toothache" Issue / Symptom Connections

Below you will find various relationships to, and potential clinical treatment approaches for toothache.

Content Related to Toothache

It is critical to appreciate that in Chinese Medicine, treatment for "toothache" is rarely focused on the symptoms exclusively. Alternatively, a practitioner is looking at the factors that led to the development of "toothache" - i.e. the "cause(s)".

For non-practitioners, we recommend reading treating the "cause" and not the "symptoms" for more on the overall approach and the importance of the TCM diagnostic system in formulating treatment approaches.

Within TCM, "toothache" is potentially related to one or more of the following diagnostic patterns: heat in the blood, liver and gallbladder damp heat, shen disturbance, spleen and stomach damp heat, and/or stomach fire.

The above patterns are common examples. In clinical situations, however, there are any number of other possibilities. Many times there will be a layered combination of patterns in an interwoven blend with their symptoms - some being the cause of an issue and the result of another issue. While initially complex, this is illustrative of the the web of relationships that Chinese Medicine is designed to approach.

• View LI 1 (Metal Yang)
  
      .1 cun posterior to the corner of the nail on the radial side of the index finger.
  
      Jing Well Point, for heat, pain, stagnation, especially at the opposite end of the channel, for eye and ear pain and inflammation, toothache. Bleed for high fever, coma  
• View LI 2 (Second Space)
  
      On the radial side of the index finger distal to the 2nd metacarpophalangeal joint in a depression at the border of the…
  
      Shown to increase saliva production and to effect the areas of the brain involved in saliva production. Useful for dry mouth (xerostomia). LI 2 & LI 3 are not used often clinically as LI 4 & LI 11 have broader applications. Sedat…
• View LI 4 (Union Valley)
  
      In the middle of the 2nd metacarpal bone on the radial side.
  
      Releases the exterior for wind-cold or wind-heat syndromes Strengthens the wei qi, improves immunity Regulates the sweat glands, for excessive sweating tonify LI 4 then disperse KD 7 and vice versa. Any problem on the face - sense organ…
• View LI 6 (Veering Passageway)
  
      3 cun above the crease of the wrist on the LI 5 to LI 11 line.
  
      Luo Connecting Point, influences the descending and dispersing function of the Lungs - useful for upperbody edema a/or facial puffiness. The Luo channel travels upward to the face effecting the jaw, teeth and ears, tinnitus, deafness, too…
• View SI 5 (Yang Valley)
  
      On the ulnar end of the transverse wrist crease in a depression between the styloid process of the ulna and the triquet…
  
      Local point for the hand and wrist. Neck and shoulder pain and/or swelling. Toothache, lockjaw. Clears heat from the hearts - calms the spirit, manic behavior.  
• View SI 8 (Small Sea)
  
      Between the olecranon process of the ulna and the medial epicondyle of the humerus, found with the elbow flexed.
  
      Elbow problems, swelling, trembling, pain, numbness, weakness - channel issues with excess wind a/or heat. Submandibular region swelling or pain, toothache, gums, cheek, neck, scapula, axilla. Epilepsy  
• View SI 18 (Cheek Bone Hole)
  
      Directly below the outer canthus of the eye in a depression on the lower border of the zygoma.
  
      Local point for facial disorders, Bell's palsy, trigeminal neuralgia, spasm, twitching of the eyelids, facial muscles, etc.. Upper jaw tootache. Yellowing of the sclera.  
• View SI 19 (Auditory Palace)
  
      Anterior to the tragus and posterior to the condyloid process of the mandible, in a depression formed when the mouth is…
  
      Ear problems of any etiology, inflammation, deafness, tinnitus, hearing loss. TMJ, toothache. Calms the spirit - manic behavior, epilepsy, sensation of pressure below the heart.  
• View ST 3 (Great Bone-Hole)
  
      Directly below the pupil in a depression at the level of the border of the ala nasi.
  
      Local point - Twitching eyelids, pain a/or swelling of the cheek, trigeminal neuralgia, toothache. Deviation from stroke, bell's palsy, facial paralysis. Swelling of the knee (Deadman text).
• View ST 4 (Earth Granary)
  
      Directly below the pupil, lateral to the corner of the mouth.
  
      Facial pain - Bell's palsy, facial paralysis, trigeminal neuralgia, deviation of mouth from stroke, toothache. Inability to close the eye, eye twitching, itching, night blindness. Inability to eat. May be helpful for atrophy and/or move…
• View ST 5 (Great Reception)
  
      Anterior to the angle of the mandible on the anterior border of the masseter muscle in a groove-like depression (facial…
  
      Local point - Pain a/or swelling of the cheek/jaw, neck pain, lockjaw, toothache. Stiff tongue leading to speech problems, frequent yawning. Inability to close eye.
• View ST 6 (Jawbone)
  
      One finger width anterior and superior to the angle of the mandible at the belly of the masseter muscle with teeth clen…
  
      Eliminate wind from the face - TMJ, toothache, Bell's palsy, twitching, facial pain/paralysis. Loss of voice, deviation of mouth/face, lockjaw.
• View ST 7 (Below the Joint)
  
      On the face, anterior to the ear, in a depression between the zygomatic arch and the mandibular notch, with mouth close…
  
      TMJ, facial pain, lower jaw toothache. Hearing issues, deafness, tinnitus, ear pain, ear discharge/infections.
• View ST 42 (Surging Yang)
  
      Between the 2nd and 3rd metatarsals and the cuneiform bone, between the tendons of the long extensor muscles of the big…
  
      Issues on the upper end of the channel (i.e. mouth/face/head) - upper mouth/teeth issues, toothache, deviation of the face as in bell's palsy or stroke. Local point for foot pain - pain, swelling, redness - also motor control issues of th…
• View ST 44 (Inner Court)
  
      Proximal to the web margin between the 2nd and 3rd metatarsal bones, in a depression distal and lateral to the 2nd meta…
  
      Ying Spring Point - Clears heat from the channel and organ - febrile disease with absence of sweating.  Useful for issues of the Face & Jaw along with LI 4 - toothache, facial pain, bell's palsy, stroke, sore throat, eye pain. Damp H…
• View ST 45 (Severe Mouth)
  
      .1 cun posterior to the corner of the nail on the lateral side of the 2nd toe.
  
      Release heat a/or move stagnation from the channel and organ - headaches, toothaches, facial pain, sore throat, TMJ, bell's palsy, facial deviation from stroke. Agitation a/or insomnia w/heat signs, excessive dreaming, loss of consciousne…