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Swelling and pain of the gums, toothache accompanied by loosening, or black decay and shedding, are commonly treated by people as Kidney deficiency. However, it is unknown that this actually belongs to damp-heat in the Yangming channel. Although teeth are attributed to the Kidney, they grow from the gums. The upper and lower gums belong to the Yangming Large Intestine and Stomach channels, just as trees grow in soil. If the intestines and stomach are injured by fine wine, rich flavors, and greasy, sweet, and slippery foods, leading to damp-heat attacking upward, the gums become turbid, resulting in swelling and pain, bleeding, or the generation of worms. Consequently, the teeth become unstable, leading to loosening, black decay, and shedding. Treatment should aim to purge the damp-heat of the Yangming channel; once the gums are clear and tranquil, the teeth will naturally become secure.

In my opinion: If toothache is caused by damp-heat in the Hand and Foot Yangming channels, use Qingwei San (Stomach-Clearing Powder) from Dongyuan; if it is caused by wind-cold invading the brain, causing headache and toothache, use Qianghuo Fuzi Xixin Tang (Notopterygium, Aconite, and Asarum Decoction); if it is caused by excessive worry injuring the Spleen, use Guipi Tang (Restore the Spleen Decoction); if it is caused by constrained fire, use Yueju Wan (Resolve Depression Pill); if it is triggered by alcohol, wheat products, and roasted or fried foods, use Qingwei San; if it is caused by dietary injury to the Spleen, use Liujunzi Tang (Six Gentlemen Decoction); if it is caused by fatigue injuring Yuan Qi (Primal Qi), use Buzhong Yiqi Tang (Tonify the Middle and Augment the Qi Decoction); if the Spleen and Stomach are inherently weak, use Liujunzi Tang with Danggui (Angelica Sinensis) and Shengma (Cimicifugae Rhizoma); if it is due to Yin deficiency of the Kidney channel, use Liuwei Wan (Six-Ingredient Pill with Rehmannia); if it is due to Yang deficiency of the Kidney channel, use Bawei Wan (Eight-Ingredient Pill with Rehmannia); if both Yin and Yang are deficient, use Shibu Wan (Ten-Ingredient Pill); if there is cold-deficiency of the Spleen and Kidney, use Anshen Wan (Calming the Kidney Pill). Mr. Xu Yongcheng stated: Any dental disease accompanied by aversion to cold and fever belongs to the Hand and Foot Yangming channels; loose, broken, or shed teeth belong to the Foot Shaoyin channel; corroded, swollen, painful, and bleeding teeth are all caused by Stomach fire. There are also cases where pathogens from various channels mix with external causes.

Zhang Zhongliang, Minister of Justice, had loose teeth and was cured using Anshen Wan; Yang Zhongyu, Examiner, had shaking teeth and was cured using Buzhong Yiqi Tang; Wang Jichuan, Censor, had loose teeth with exposed gums and was cured using Chengqi Tang (Purgative Decoction); Zheng Boxing, Literary Selection Official, had toothache radiating to the head and was cured using Qianghuo Fuzi Tang (Notopterygium and Aconite Decoction); Yan Qianxian, Judicial Commissioner, had toothache and was cured using Liangge San (Cool the Diaphragm Powder); Guo Zhifang, Military Engineer, suffered from overdrinking and was cured using Qingwei San; Dang Libu, Ministry of Personnel Official, suffered from wind-heat and was cured using Xijiao Shengma Tang (Rhinoceros Horn and Cimicifuga Decoction); Zhu Gongbu, Ministry of Works Official, suffered from blood and Qi deficiency and was cured using Shiquan Dabu Tang (Perfect Ten Great Tonifying Decoction); Shen Dayin, County Magistrate, suffered from headache and toothache, heavy head, and cold extremities, which was diagnosed as wind-cold invading the brain, and was cured using Mahuang Fuzi Xixin Tang (Ephedra, Aconite, and Asarum Decoction): All cases were successfully cured.