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The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the teeth and Zhang-Fu(臟腑), dental diseases, and the hygiene of the mouth through the literature of oriental medicine. First, the relatonship between the teeth and Zhang-Fu is reviewed as follows: The teeth are influenced by Shen(腎) because they are the end of bone and Biao(標) of Shen. Gingiva is related to Wei(胃) and Da-Chang(大腸) because it is passed by Yangming-Channel(陽明經). The growth and nutrition of teeth depends on Shen. The pathological condition of Shen causes the gingival atrophy, the loose of teeth, dedentition due to aging, withering of teeth, and tartar: whereas the pathological condition of Wei and Da-Chang causes toothache, gingivitis, inflamed gums, bad breath, and gingival hemorrhage. Second, the causes and therapies of dental diseases through the literature can be summarized as follows: The major causes of toothache are the pathogenic condition of wind-heat and wind-cold, the heat syndrome of Wei, the damp-heat of intestine, flaring-up of fire of deficiency type, rotten tooth, etc... The principal causes of dedentition and the shaking and loose of teeth are the deficiency of Shen, and the rest of causes are the damp-heat of Yangming. Gingival atrophy is caused by the deficiency of Shen, whereas the gingival hemorrhage comes from the factors in the pathogenic factor of wind-heat of Yangming-Channel, the heat syndrome of stomach, and the deficiency of Shen. The causes of grinding of teeth during sleeping are stomach-heat, and the delayed dentition and the withering result from the deficiency of Shen-Jing.(腎精) The principal therapies of toothache are removing wind and heat, clearing away heat and prompting diuresis, clearing away the stomach-heat, replenishing vital essence to tonify the Shen, relieving superficial syndrome by wind-cold, and alleviating pain by destroying parasites. For the prescription of the principal therapies, there are Xijio Dihuang Tang, Jiajian Ganlu Yin, Qufeng Wan, Qingwei San, Tiaowei Chenggi Tang Shengong Wan, Liangge San Qingwei Tang Yunu Jian, Liuwei Dihuang Wan Zuogui Yin Bawei Wan Wanshao Dan, Xixin San Badou Wan Gianghuo Fuzi Tang, Jiuzi Tang Badou Wan, etc... The therapies of dedentition and the shaking and loose of teeth are replenishing vital essence to tonify the Shen, and warming and recuperating the Shen-Yang: as the prescription, there are Liuwei Dihuang Wana Zuogui Yin, and Bawei Wan Anshen Wan Wanshao Dan Yougui Wan etc... The therapies of gingival hemorrhage are clearing away the stomach-heat, replenishing vital essence to tonify the Shen, warming and recuperating the Shen-Yang(腎陽), and moisturing and purging intence heat with the prescription of Tiaowei Chenggi Tang Xijiao Dihuang Tang, Liuwei Dihuang Wan Zuogui Yin, Bawei Wan Anshen Wan, and Yunu Jian. The therapy of gingival atrophy is replenishing vital essence to tonify the Shen in the prescription of Liuwei Wan Bawei Wan Ziyin Dabu Wan. The therapies of grinding of teeth during sleeping are clearing away the stomach-heat and purging intense heat, and invigorating the spleen through eliminating dampness in the prescription of Qingwei San, Wumei Wan, etc... The therapy of delaed dentition is replenishing vital essence to tonify the Shen with the prescription of Liuwei Wan Buyin Jian, etc... Third, clinical treatment reports of dental diseases are reviewed as follows: The toothache due to stomach-heat was treated by medical herbs like Gypsum, Natrir Sulfas, Rehmanniae, Schizonepetal Herba, Menthae Folium, Cimicifugae Rhizoma, and Scrophulariae Radix. The therapies of toothache due to flaring-up of fire in deficiency type from deficiency of Shen provided with replenishment of vital essence to tonify the Shen and clean ministerial fire, and the prescription was the kind of Liuwei Wan, which worked very well. The therapy of dedentition and loose of teeth due to deficiency of Shen was done to stablize the teeth as tonifing the Shen with the prescription of Guchi Wan. The rate of imrovement was over 90%. The destruction of periodontal tissue due to periodonititis was cured of dispelling wind, reducing heat, and alleviating pain, It was improved by taking Zizhi Xingiong Tang, Guchi Xiaotong San, Yunii Jian, and Qingwei San about 3-7 days, and the rate of improvement was over 80%. Fourth, the prevention and regimens are reviewed as follows: As a physical and breathing exercise of the teeth, tapping teeth which stimulates the circulation of Qi(氣) and Xue(血) had been used. The tapping time of 14, 17, 36, etc... has been reported, and it should be applied based on the body condition. The medical herbs for gargling and brushing teeth have been used. Specifically, Cimicifugae Rhizoma, Gypsum, Gypsum Fibrosum, and Indigo pulrelrata Lereis have been used to reduce heat, Coptidis Rhizama and Yang Jinggu to eliminate damp-heat, Amomi Semen, Cyperi Rhizoma, Flos Caryophylli, Asari Radix, Piperis Longi Fructus, Santali Albae Lignum, Meliae Fructus, Moschus, Aquillaiae Lignum, and Borneol to promote the circulation of Qi and to relieve pain, Ligustici Radix, Angelice Radix, Rhizoma Nardostachydis, Tribuli Semen to relieve superficial syndrome by means of diaphiresis, and Cnidii Rhizoma, Angelicae sinensis Radix, and Olibanum to promote blood circulation to stop pain.
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