Periodontal Disease (Gum Disease)

How Chinese medicine differentiates periodontal disease, the four patterns you'll actually meet in practice, and the points for each. Acupuncture only — no herbs.

This page is educational, for practitioners and students — it is not a diagnostic tool and does not replace a proper in-person assessment. Periodontal disease needs a dentist for cleaning, scaling, and monitoring of bone loss — acupuncture here is supportive care alongside that, not a substitute for it.

General Acupuncture Points

Acupuncture points traditionally used for periodontal disease — 6 key points, used across the patterns below rather than tied to just one.

Point	Key action
L.I.-4	Expels exterior Wind, releases the Exterior, stops pain.
ST-44	Clears Heat, regulates the Intestines.
ST-6	Expels Wind, removes obstructions from the channel — local point for jaw/gum pain.
KI-3	Tonifies the Kidneys (Yin and Yang), benefits Essence.
BL-23	Tonifies the Kidneys and nourishes Kidney-Essence.
ST-36	Benefits Stomach and Spleen, tonifies Qi and Blood.
SP-6	Strengthens the Spleen, nourishes Blood and Yin.
Ren-6	Tonifies Qi and Yang, raises sinking Qi.
G.B.-20	Expels exterior Wind, clears Heat.
T.B.-5	Expels Wind-Heat, removes obstructions from the channel.

The Four Patterns

↑ reinforcing ↓ reducing ⊥ even method.

1. Stomach Fire (Stomach Heat) View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Bright red, swollen, painful gums; gums bleed easily, especially when brushing; strong, foul breath; intense thirst with craving for cold drinks; a burning sensation in the stomach area; constipation with dry, hard stools.

Tongue: Red body, often with red prickles in the centre, thick dry yellow coating. Pulse: Rapid, slippery, full or forceful, especially strong at the right middle position.

Treatment principle: Clear Stomach Heat, cool the Blood, nourish Yin.

L.I.-4 ↓ ST-44 ↓ ST-6 ⊥

Note: no moxa. Direct match with Stomach-Heat (or Phlegm-Heat).

2. Kidney Yin Deficiency View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Loose teeth feeling \"floating\" or elongated; receding gums with a mild, dull ache; soreness and weakness of the lower back and knees; night sweats and heat in the palms, soles, and chest; a dry mouth and throat, especially at night.

Tongue: Red body with little or no coating, often dry and thin, sometimes cracked. Pulse: Fine and rapid, especially weak at the left rear (Kidney) position.

Treatment principle: Nourish Kidney-Yin, supplement Liver and Spleen Yin, benefit Essence.

KI-3 ↑ BL-23 ↑ ST-6 ⊥ L.I.-4 ↓

Note: no moxa. Direct match with Kidney-Yin deficiency.

3. Qi and Blood Deficiency

Clinical manifestations: Pale, receding gums; teeth feel loose; a dull, mild toothache; persistent fatigue and weakness; a sallow complexion and pale lips.

Tongue: Pale body, may be thin or have teeth marks, thin white coating. Pulse: Fine and weak, especially in the right Guan position.

Treatment principle: Tonify Qi, nourish Blood, strengthen the Spleen.

ST-36 ↑ SP-6 ↑ Ren-6 ↑

Note: moxa applicable. No deck on this site combines Qi and Blood deficiency into one slide, so no pattern link is given here.

4. Wind-Heat View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Throbbing, severe tooth pain; red, swollen gums with acute onset; an aversion to wind or drafts; a sore throat or mild fever; a headache with a distending quality.

Tongue: Red at the tip and edges, thin yellow coating. Pulse: Floating and rapid.

Treatment principle: Disperse Wind-Heat, clear Heat, resolve toxicity.

L.I.-4 ↓ G.B.-20 ↓ T.B.-5 ↓

Note: no moxa. Matches Invasion of Lungs by Wind-Heat on the exterior-invasion level — acute onset, an aversion to wind, mild fever and a floating-rapid pulse are shared.

Related conditions

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