Dental Qi

Dr. Marcy B. Newman, DOM, MPH, RDH

During your last dental visit, did you experience some pangs of anxiety? Have you ever had a toothache and rummaged through your herbal stash for a more natural remedy? Do you or any of your acupuncture patients exhibit Temporal Mandibular Joint (TMJ) pain?

As a doctor of Oriental medicine and a veteran dental hygienist, I am on a mission to bridge the gap between acupuncturists and dental professionals. Acupuncturists, being holistically-minded and very well trained, still tend to have a minimal amount of training regarding dental conditions/imbalances as well as allopathic dental care (there are exceptions, of course). On the flip side, dental professionals being astute in their world, have little training and awareness of oriental medicine in general.

Let’s focus on the Oriental medical side of things, for the purposes of this article. As I did detailed research of acupuncture and herbs for dental conditions, it was astounding to see the depth and variety of dental tools we have in our bags! The following conditions have been treated or minimized with acupuncture and herbs in the literature: toothache, TMJ disorder, periodontal disease, tooth mobility, dental anesthesia and dental anxiety. I will address some of these.

The toothache syndrome seems at first clear cut, but actually can exhibit itself in a variety of Chinese Medical Diagnosis patterns. The most common, in my opinion, seems to be the Stomach Heat condition complete with a ravenous appetite, halitosis (bad breath), dry mouth, red tongue & yellow coat, rapid pulse and other related symptoms. The Qing Wei San formula1 has been shown to clear this pronounced and uncomfortable condition. That same toothache might also have either a Yin Deficiency or a Wind-Cold component requiring either Yu Nu Jian2 or perhaps a prepared formula by a reputable company such as Head Relief Formula3, respectively. Just remember, we may ease their pain, but a dental visit would be a very good idea, as well, if dental treatment is required.

Another common dental condition seen in our acupuncture clinics is TMJ disorder (TMD), complete with dull-achy or sharp pain in and around the ear, numbness and temporal headaches. It is astounding that “more than 10 million Americans have symptoms associated with TMD.”4 There are many theories as to Chinese Medical Diagnosis differentiation that include: Liver Qi Stagnation, Phlegm Stagnation, Qi and Blood Stagnation, Wind-Cold or Wind-Heat lodged in the channels, Liver Fire, Liver Wind, Exuberant Fire of the Heart and Stomach, Qi and Blood Vacuity, or Roundworm Harassing Internally.5 As a DOM and a dental professional, the majority of my TMJ acupuncture patients tend towards LR Qi Stagnation with Qi and Blood Yu. Your acupuncture point selection will be dictated by the exhibited pattern. Some of the best points used in most of these scenarios are the Stomach, Gallbladder, Small Intestine and San Jiao local points around the jaw and ear, in addition to various auricular therapy protocols, such as TMJ, Point Zero, Upper Jaw, Lower Jaw, and such.6

Holistic Dental Approaches

As an acupuncturist, you might want to use and refer your patients to our counterpart in dentistry - a holistic or biological dentist, who view the mouth as an integrated part of the entire body.7 Many of the procedures and philosophies adopted by this valuable set of professionals are not respected by Western-style dentists. One famous theory is that of amalgams (mercury fillings) being a harmful material that must be removed and excreted safely out of the body. The theory is that mercury is released during normal biological activity such as mastication (chewing) and bruxism (grinding) and travels to various parts of the body thus causing immune system disorder, brain deterioration and more. According to the American Dental Association, "Banning amalgam would deprive patients and dentists of an essential treatment option that is clinically and scientifically substantiated to be safe and effective."8 However, in Sweden, Germany and Austria they are choosing to ban or restrict the use of amalgams based on research that has been reviewed by European dental professionals.9

Prevention is Worth More than Gold

Lastly, prevention is often a crucial, yet undervalued part of dental health. Most conditions can be thwarted with oral hygiene care at home and regular professional dental cleanings in the office. The Kidney Jing factor does often play a role in the prevalence of periodontal disease and its association bacterial evils. I’ve discovered some pretty powerful alternatives for gum care which include: tea tree oil, myrrh, cinnamon, echinacea and green tea, to name a few! I have some recommendations, if you or your acupuncture patients are amongst the more than 80% of the population that do not or cannot adopt flossing to clean the interproximal spaces where periodontal disease can lurk. Toothpicks soaked in tea tree oil (found at your local health food store) can be a tremendous asset for disturbing plaque colonies which cause disease. Also, doing a rinse or Waterpik with cinnamon, tea tree oil and other natural astringents can be of additional benefit to the gum health.

Dr. Newman will be presenting her Dental Acupuncture seminars for acupuncturists around the U.S. and internationally. Also, she has begun speaking to state dental and dental hygiene associations in the U.S. and abroad about Oriental medicine in her talk, "The Crossroads Between Oriental Medicine and Dentistry." She just recently received an invitation to be a guest speaker on the national level at the American Dental Hygienists’ Association meeting in June, 2008, in Albuquerque, NM. drmarcy@dentalacupuncture.com

  1. D. Bensky and R. Barolet, Formulas and Strategies, Eastland Press, Seattle, WA, 1990, page 93.
  2. D. Bensky and R. Barolet, Formulas and Strategies, Eastland Press, Seattle, WA, 1990, page 94.
  3. J. Scott, DOM and Lorena Monda, DOM, Formula Guide, 4th Edition, Golden Flower Chinese Herbs, 2004, Albuq, NM, page 40.
  4. http://content.nhiondemand.com/psv/HC2.asp?objID=100636&cType=hc, National Institutes of Health study, 1999.
  5. B. Flaws and P. Sionneau, The Treatment of Modern Western Medical Diseases with Chinese Medicine; A Textbook and Clinical Manual, Blue Poppy Press, Boulder, CO, 2001, pages 499-507.
  6. T Oleson, Ph.D., Auriculotherapy Manual: Chinese and Western Systems of Ear Acupuncture, Second Edition, Health Care Alternatives, Los Angeles, CA, 1996, page 188.
  7. J. Mercola, MD, DO, http://www.mercola.com
  8. http://www.ada.org/prof/resources/positions/statements/amalgam.asp, April 2007.
  9. Henry Spink Foundation, http://www.henryspink.org/dental_amalgam.htm, London, England