bubble_chart Concept

Loose teeth, also known as tooth mobility. The hand Yangming meridian enters the lower teeth, and the foot Yangming meridian enters the upper teeth. Teeth are the surplus of bones, nourished by the gums, so tooth mobility is closely related to the hand and foot Yangming meridians and the kidneys.

The symptom of loose teeth sometimes appears after the exposure of the gums, and sometimes the teeth become loose before the gums are exposed. Therefore, ancient medical texts discuss both conditions together. However, there are also cases where only loose teeth are seen without gum exposure. This article focuses on discussing cases where loose teeth are the main symptom. If gum exposure occurs first, it will be discussed in a separate article.

bubble_chart Pattern Analysis

1. Yangming Heat Congestion︰Loose teeth, accompanied by red and swollen gums, or receding gums, fetid mouth odor, constipation, slippery and rapid pulse, red tongue texture, and yellow-white greasy and slightly dry coating. Mostly caused by excessive alcohol consumption or a preference for spicy foods. The gums are connected to the Yangming collaterals. If heat accumulates in the intestines and stomach, rising to the mouth and corroding the gums, the teeth lose their stability and become loose. Shoushi Baoyuan said: "Excessive heat in the earth causes scorching and shaking." The key points for pattern identification are: loose teeth occurring together with red and swollen or receding gums, along with evidence of Yangming heat pattern (such as fetid mouth odor, constipation, preference for cool drinks, slippery and rapid pulse, yellow-white greasy coating, etc.). Treatment should focus on clearing the stomach and strengthening the teeth. Recommended formulas include Stomach-Clearing Powder or Sweet Dew Decoction.
2. Kidney Yin Deficiency︰Loose teeth, followed by receding gums, accompanied by soreness in the waist, dizziness, tinnitus, alopecia areata, a thin and rapid pulse, a thin tongue body, a tender and red tongue texture, and thin or scant tongue coating. This condition is commonly seen in young adults, either due to excessive sexual activity damaging kidney essence, or preexisting seminal emission disorders leading to insufficient kidney essence, resulting in malnutrition of the bone marrow and loosening of the tooth roots. Subsequently, the gums recede, the pulse is thin and rapid, the tongue is tender and red, and symptoms of kidney yin deficiency (such as dizziness, tinnitus, alopecia areata, etc.) are present. The treatment should focus on nourishing the kidneys and strengthening the teeth. The recommended formula is Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill with the addition of fortune's drynaria rhizome, or the use of the yin-enriching, stomach-clearing, and teeth-strengthening pill.
3. Kidney Qi Deficiency︰Loose teeth, accompanied by soreness in the lower back, dribbling after urination, or even incontinence of urine, hearing loss, deep, thready, and weak pulse, pale tongue with white coating. It is a deficiency pattern of loose teeth. Commonly seen in the elderly or those who overexert themselves, kidney qi deficiency fails to secure and restrain, leading to loose teeth. The key points for differentiation are: pale red gums, rarely with gum exposure, accompanied by dribbling after urination or incontinence of urine, deep and thready pulse without rapidness. The treatment should focus on tonifying the kidney to strengthen teeth, and the recommended formula is Return to Spring Pill.

Loose teeth are closely related to oral hygiene. If one does not rinse their mouth, food debris can get stuck between the teeth and adhere to the gums. Over time, this can generate heat and corrode the tooth roots, leading to tooth loosening. Therefore, maintaining oral hygiene is also a necessary measure to prevent and treat loose teeth.

bubble_chart Documentation

1. Zhubing Yuanhou Lun．Tooth Looseness Condition: "The branch of the Hand Yangming meridian enters the teeth, and the Foot Yangming meridian also surrounds the teeth. The teeth are supported by the bones and nourished by the marrow. Jingmai is deficient, wind evil takes advantage, and the blood and qi cannot nourish and moisten, thus causing them to loosen."