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Teeth are collectively governed by the Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian. (The *Suwen* states: "When men reach forty, their kidney qi declines, hair falls out, and teeth become withered." It also states: "Those with kidney heat have a dark complexion and withered teeth. When the Shaoyin meridian ends, the face turns black, and teeth appear elongated with dirt.") Teeth are divided into upper and lower teeth. ("Yin" is also written as "", referring to the gums, which are the flesh wrapping the tooth roots.) The upper teeth belong to the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian. (The *Suwen* states: "When pathogenic factors invade the Foot-Yangming meridian, it causes nasal congestion, epistaxis, and coldness in the upper teeth. The *Zhenjing* states: 'For pain in the upper teeth that prefers coolness and dislikes heat, take Yuan-Source points of the Foot-Yangming meridian, such as Chongyang (ST42), located five cun above the dorsum of the foot between the bones where arterial pulsation can be felt.' Note: '' means to split. The left half is '', the right half is 'pian'. Zhu Danxi said: 'One should moxa Zusanli (ST36), which is the He-Sea point of the Foot-Yangming meridian, located three finger-widths below the lateral condyle of the knee, about one finger-width away from the tibia, in the depression between two tendons.') The lower teeth belong to the Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian. (Zhang Jiegu said: 'Qinjiao (Gentianae Macrophyllae Radix) treats lower toothache and eliminates wind-dampness of this meridian. The *Zhenjing* states: 'For pain in the lower teeth that prefers warmth and dislikes cold, take Yuan-Source points of the Hand-Yangming meridian, such as Hegu (LI4), located in the depression between the metacarpal bones of the thumb and index finger. Zhu Danxi said: 'One should moxa Sanjian (LI3), which is the Shu-Stream point of the Hand-Yangming meridian, located on the medial side of the bone behind the metacarpophalangeal joint of the thumb and index finger, at the junction of red and white flesh.') At eight years old, men's kidney qi becomes substantial, deciduous teeth erupt and are replaced. At twenty-four (three times eight), wisdom teeth grow. At forty (five times eight), teeth begin to wither. At sixty-four (eight times eight), teeth fall out. Women follow the same pattern but count by sevens. This is because the Kidney governs bones, and teeth are the surplus of bones, nourished by marrow; thus, they change with the rise and fall of Tian Gui (reproductive essence). Branches of the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian enter the upper teeth. Branches of the Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian enter the lower teeth. If marrow and bone are insufficient, or the Yangming meridians are deficient, various dental diseases arise. Why? Yangming belongs to Metal, while teeth belong to Kidney Water. The branches of the Yangming meridian entering the teeth represent Mother Qi (Metal) nourishing and protecting Child Qi (Water). Thus, when Yangming is excess, teeth are firm; when Yangming is deficient, teeth are loose. Toothache occurs when Wind, Cold, Dampness, or Heat pathogens invade the Yangming meridians due to deficiency, gathering into fluids and saliva, and battling with Qi and Blood in the teeth, causing pain. If Heat and saliva are excessive, swelling and pain occur; if Heat is not excessive, slight swelling and root mobility occur. Some toothaches are caused by worms generated from Damp-Heat eroding the roots. Bleeding from the teeth results from Wind-Heat pathogens invading the Yangming branches, disturbing the blood. Dental caries (cavities) occur when Wind-Heat pathogens invade the teeth, causing Qi and Blood to rot into pus with foul odor, known as caries or wind-caries. Rotting teeth result from worm erosion leading to pus and foul discharge. Protruding teeth occur when Heat enters the vessels reaching the teeth, turning fluids into pus, exhausting Qi and Blood, wasting muscles, exposing roots, and causing teeth to protrude. Loose teeth result from deficient Yangming meridians failing to nourish the teeth. Sequentially decayed teeth (Li Du) occur when marrow and blood cannot nourish sufficiently, turning teeth dark, called Li Chi. Yellow or black teeth are similar. Thus, are not all dental diseases caused by Yangming? Li Dongyuan said: "Teeth are the exterior manifestation of the Kidney, the mouth is the orifice of the Spleen, and many meridians converge in the mouth. Teeth are traversed by the Hand and Foot Yangming meridians. Upper teeth belong to Kun Earth (Spleen/Stomach), penetrated by the Foot-Yangming Stomach Meridian, remaining still. Lower teeth move during chewing, penetrated by the Hand-Yangming Large Intestine Meridian. Hand-Yangming dislikes cold drinks and likes hot ones; Foot-Yangming likes cold drinks and dislikes heat. Hence, their pathologies differ. Teeth are the exterior of the Kidney, preferring coolness for firmness, but diseases vary. Severe Heat causes tooth mobility, gum detachment, and unceasing pain, requiring different treatments. Some hate Heat and hurt; some hate Cold and hurt; some hate both; some hate cold drinks but like hot ones; some hate hot drinks but like cold ones; some hurt due to mobility; some due to exposed gums; some due to worm erosion and bleeding; some due to gum swelling; some due to Wind in Spleen/Stomach feeling only wind; some due to worms eating gums causing discoloration; some due to deficient Stomach Qi unable to resist Cold; some due to foul breath. Since pains differ, one drug cannot cure all." Liu Zongnong said: "Head/face external Wind-Cold or inhaling cold causing toothache are external causes. Excess Heat, Yin Deficiency with Fire Hyperactivity, Bone Steaming, Qi Stagnation with Blood Heat, and worm infestation are internal causes. Hard object pressure or trauma are neither-internal-nor-external causes." Xue Xinpu said: "Severe Damp-Heat pain requires Chengqi Tang to purge; mild cases use Qingwei San. Large Intestine Heat with gum swelling/pain uses Qingwei San; severe cases use Tiaowei Chengqi Tang. Six Stagnations pain uses Yueju Wan. Middle Qi Deficiency pain uses Buzhong Yiqi Tang. Sorrow injuring Spleen pain uses Guipi Tang. Kidney Meridian Deficient Heat pain uses Liuwei Dihuang Wan. Kidney Meridian Deficient Cold pain uses Hushao Dan; severe cases use Bawei Wan. Wind-Heat uses Duohuo San; if ineffective, Yinchensan. Wind-Cold entering Brain uses Qianghuo Fuzi Tang. Pathologies are diverse; treat according to clinical presentation. For Wind-Toxin, Heat Stagnation, Caries, or Kidney Deficiency toothache, before differentiation, apply Xiaofeng San. Mix 3 fen of roasted Cyperi Rhizoma and 1 fen of roasted Salt, grind, and brush. For Wind-Cold-Damp Headache, stiff neck, loose teeth, detached gums, use Qianghuo San. Winter Wind-Cold-Damp headache, stiff neck, loose teeth pain, use Mahuang San. Severe Cold invading Brain with headache and toothache, use Xixin San, Baizhi San, or Xiezhao San. Cold toothache: rub Laoya Dihuang San, or decoct equal parts of Apis Mellifica (Fengfang) and Sichuan Pepper (Chuanjiao) for rinsing, or burn Lychee shell/kernel for rubbing. If cooling herbs worsen pain, use contrary treatment: powder of Bibai, Chuanjiao, Bohe, Jingjie, Xixin, Zhangnao, and Qingyan; rub on teeth. Pain relieved by cold, worsened by heat: treat with Acrid-Cool herbs. Li Dongyuan treated Mrs. Liu, 30+, unbearable toothache relieved by riding outside inhaling cool air, returning home to recur. This was Damp-Heat. Foot-Yangming enters upper teeth, Hand-Yangming lower teeth; Yangming has abundant Qi/Blood, exacerbated by rich food creating Damp-Heat. He created a formula to simulate Wind-Cold in teeth using bitter-cold Huanglian and Wutonglv, combined with acrid-cool Bohe and Jingjie, plus acrid-ping Shengma to guide to Yangming, sheep tibia ash to supplement bone surplus, and musk as guiding agent. Named Guogui San, applied topically with great effect. Also used Tiaowei Chengqi Tang minus Mangxiao plus Huanglian to treat the root, inducing bowel movements 3-5 times cured her. Internal Duohuo San for Wind-Toxin toothache; externally, soak salt-filled soap pod segments in water after roasting, rinse to expel saliva. Wind-Toxin/Heat attacking gums with red tissue protrusion: Xiaofeng San taken with tea after meals/sleep, adding Jingjie, Fangfeng, Baizhi, Fengfang, cooled for frequent rinsing. Severe Heat swelling jaw: Jinfeicao San minus Mahuang, add Bohe. *San Yin Fang* records a woman with swollen cheeks cured by large dose Jinfeicao San fumigation/rinsing. Yangming Heat toothache: stir-fried Da Huang and Xiangfu to charcoal, powder with Qingyan, rub anytime. Overuse of warming Stomach Heat herbs caused unbearable radiating head pain, facial heat, favoring cold/disliking heat: Hand-Yangming Heat excess, treat with Qingwei Tang. Cang Gong treated Minister Qi with caries by moxing Left Hand-Yangming meridian and rinsing with Kushen Decoction 3 sheng daily, cured in 5-6 days. Mixed Cold/Heat pain: Danggui Longdan San, Yizhi Mulu San. More Cold than Heat (dislikes cold strongly, heat slightly): Caodoukou San. More Heat than Cold (dislikes heat strongly, cold slightly): Shexiang San, Lixiao San. Upper toothache: Shengma San. Lower toothache: Baizhi San. Meat-eaters with bad breath, loose/bleeding teeth: Internal injury from Damp-Heat/Rich Food. Use Shengong Wan, Laoya San, or Tiaowei Chengqi Tang minus Xiaorenzhi plus Huanglian. Kidney Deficiency floating/painful teeth with aversion to cold/high fever resembling collapse: Anshen Wan, Bawei Wan, Hushao Dan, occasionally Heixi Dan. Non-swollen/non-painful weak teeth unable to chew: Jiahe San from *Jufang* with ginger decoction post-meal, followed by Goubipi rinse. On empty stomach, eat stewed lamb kidney slices stuffed with Congsi, Jiaomo, Qingyan, Jili powder, and Guyuan San, wrapped in Cardamom or Lotus leaf. After two days, strength returns. Rub Laoya San. Saliva-inducing pain relief: equal parts Gafan and Fengfang (lightly roasted), powder, 2 qian decocted, rinse hot, spit cold. Or Chan Su + Yinzhu pills radish-sized, rub lesion; 3 pills expel thick saliva, curing it. Ear-plugging: Xionghuang Dingtong Gao, Touguan San, or baked Croton Seed (Badou) in garlic clove, wrapped in cotton, inserted in affected ear. Daily brushing powders: Laoya San, Baiya San, Shexiang Shuaya San, Sheep Tibia Ash San, Changchun San, Chenxiang San, Zhusha San, Miaoying San.