Key Diagnostic Points:

Toothache is a common symptom. It can be involved in acute or chronic pulpitis (inflammation of the dental pulp), dental caries (tooth decay), periodontal abscess and pericoronitis (inflammation of the gingiva, surrounding the tooth).

Differential Diagnosis:

1) Toothache due to Stomach fire.
Severe toothache accompanied by foul breath, thirst, constipation.

Tongue: Yellow coat
Pulse: Rapid, flooding

2) Toothache due to wind-fire.
Acute toothache with gingival swelling accompanied by chills and fever.

Tongue: Thin white coat
Pulse: Superficial and rapid

3) Toothache due to Kidney Yin deficiency
Dull pain on and off. Loose teeth.

Tongue: Red body
Pulse: Thready and rapid

Treatment Principle:

Clear away fire, stop pain.

Point and Technique Prescription:

L.I. 4: One of the four key points, this one for face and mouth. It's also the Yuan Source point for the L.I. channel. L.I. goes into the lower gums.

St 6 and 7: (reduce) Local points found on the stomach channel. Stomach channel enters the upper gums.

For use with Stomach fire and wind fire, the above three points should be reduced. For Kidney Yin Deficiency, the above three points should receive even stimulation.

For Stomach fire, add:

St 44: (reduce) Ying spring point of Stomach channel is used to reduce the stomach fire as Ying spring points are used for heat/fire.

For Wind-fire, add:

SJ 2 (reduce) The Ying spring point of the San Jiao. Ying Spring for heat/fire, This point clears fire and dispels wind.

SJ 5 (reduce) Luo connecting point of San Jiao, and the confluent point for the Yang Wei Mai especially effective for exterior syndromes. Dispels wind and heat.

Du 14: (reduce) Clears away fire because its the meeting point of all yang channels and a nape location, many of which are effective on wind attacks.

For Kidney Yin deficiency, add:

Kid 3: (reinforce) Nourishes Kidney Yin. Tai Xi, "Great River" the deep and low collecting point of water on the body.

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