bubble_chart Concept

The teeth are scorched black, Maijing refers to it as "scorched teeth" or "teeth suddenly turning black". Zhubing Yuanhou Lun mentions "tooth decay condition" and "yellow-black teeth condition", where decay refers to the teeth becoming dark black. By the Qing Dynasty, the warm diseases expert Ye Tian-shi particularly emphasized the examination of teeth. In his work Nanbing Biejian, he stated: "Teeth scorched without residue indicate death; teeth scorched with residue indicate kidney heat and stomach invasion." Wenbing Tiaobian lists "black teeth" as an important sign of pathogenic heat penetrating deeply into the lower energizer.

Scorched black teeth differ from scorched black dental plaque; the latter refers to the dirt attached to the teeth, which can be scraped off.

bubble_chart Pattern Analysis

1. Exuberant Heat in the Lower Jiao︰The teeth are scorched black, with deep-seated heat unresolved, dry mouth and throat, wriggling fingers, and a deep, rapid pulse. This is due to "pathogenic heat penetrating deeply into the lower energizer," where the heat remains unresolved, body fluids are depleted, and the teeth lose their moisture, resulting in a scorched black appearance. The key diagnostic points are: scorched black teeth without coating, accompanied by symptoms suggestive of impending convulsive syncope, such as wriggling fingers and a deep, rapid pulse. The treatment should focus on the method of salty-cold and sweet-moistening, with the main prescription being Two-Shell Pulse-Restoring Decoction.
2. Kidney Heat Stomach Robbery︰The teeth are charred black with attached filth, accompanied by dry throat, thirst, dysphoria, insomnia, or abdominal distension and fullness, constipation, rapid pulse, and crimson tongue. Critical condition. Due to kidney heat and stomach dryness, the qi and fluids are consumed, and the teeth lose nourishment, resulting in blackened teeth. The key points of pattern identification are: charred teeth with filth, accompanied by dysphoria and insomnia. Treatment should focus on clearing the stomach and rescuing the kidney, Jade Lady Decoction is the main prescription; if there is abdominal distension and fullness with constipation, {|102|}Tiaowei Chengqi Decoction{|103|} can be used for treatment.
3. Wind-Cold Invading the Channels︰The teeth are yellow, black, and dry, accompanied by loose tooth roots, soreness and weakness in the waist and knees, alopecia areata, a deep and weak pulse, and a pale-dark tongue texture with thin white coating. The internal cause of this condition is deficiency of marrow and blood deficiency, which fails to nourish the teeth, while the external cause is the invasion of wind-cold into the meridians. The interaction of internal and external factors leads to withered and unmoistened teeth, resulting in their yellow and black appearance. As stated in the Zhubing Yuanhou Lun: "When wind-cold invades the Jingmai, it damages the marrow, bones, and blood, preventing them from nourishing and moistening the teeth. Thus, the teeth become dark and black, a condition called 'Li Du' (tooth erosion)." The key diagnostic points are: yellow-black or dark-black, dry teeth accompanied by looseness, along with symptoms of insufficient kidney essence such as soreness and weakness in the waist and knees, and alopecia areata. The treatment should focus on replenishing essence and dispelling wind, and the prescription of choice is Chinese Wolfberry Root-bark Powder.

Blackened teeth are often seen in the late stage of warm disease when extreme heat damages yin, indicating a poor prognosis. Maijing lists blackened teeth as one of the signs of impending death, such as "When the patient's eyes are dull and the teeth are black, it is incurable." "When both yin and yang are exhausted in the patient, and the teeth resemble cooked small beans, and the pulse is rapid, death is imminent." It also states, "When the patient's teeth suddenly turn black, death will occur within thirteen days." "When the patient's lips are swollen and teeth are scorched, death is near." However, as long as we adhere to the mechanism of disease and actively treat the condition, there may still be hope for survival.

bubble_chart Documentation

1. Zhubing Yuanhou Lun．Tooth Yellow and Black Condition: "The teeth are the end of the bones and nourished by the marrow. The meridians of the hand Yangming and foot Yangming both enter the teeth. When wind evil and cold qi invade the Jingmai, the marrow becomes deficient and the blood weak, unable to nourish the bones, leading to dryness and lack of moisture, thus causing the teeth to become yellow and black."
2. Nanbing Biejian："Teeth that are scorched and without coating indicate death. (Scorched teeth indicate the exhaustion of kidney water, and without coating, the stomach fluid is also exhausted, hence death.) Teeth that are scorched but have coating indicate kidney heat and stomach disorder. (Having coating indicates excessive fire and not yet exhausted qi and fluid, use Tiaowei Chengqi to slightly reduce stomach heat.) A mild purgation should be performed, or Jade Lady Decoction can be used to clear the stomach and rescue the kidney. (Used for those with kidney water deficiency)"