One of my patients, overwhelmed by work and stress, neglected his dental health, leading to dental issues and costly dental treatments such as fillings and implants.
Teeth serve as the first line of digestion. Poor dental health and tooth loss affect chewing and burden other digestive organs. Tooth loss can result in gum recession, impacting speech and facial appearance. Conversely, strong teeth with robust chewing ability enhance digestion and absorption while reducing the risk of cognitive decline.
How can you ensure your teeth stay healthy for a lifetime?
Tap Your Teeth 36 Times Every Morning to Prevent Tooth Loss
Modern-day individuals often prefer juicing fruits and vegetables for convenience. However, to maintain dental health, it is advisable to bite and chew fruits directly.
In our childhood, even finding a fruit knife was challenging. Whether it was a peach or an apple, we had to open our mouths wide and bite them. Over time, our chewing muscles and joints became robust.
Ancient wisdom suggests that “a door hinge never becomes worm-eaten, and flowing water never turns stale.” Only when the joints are constantly moving will they be nimble, and only when the blood is constantly flowing will they be circulating smoothly. Similarly, teeth require movement to stay strong. How can teeth be exercised? The recommendation is to “tap your teeth.”
Sun Simiao, a physician and monk from the Tang Dynasty, meditated regularly. After his sessions, he performed a specific action: closing his mouth and gently tapping his teeth together. This stimulated saliva secretion, which was then swallowed in increments, nourishing the teeth.
Sun says, “Tapping teeth 36 times every morning, the teeth will not fall out in old age. ” If young people adopt this habit, their teeth can remain strong.
Diversifolius Poplar Resin Powder Protects Teeth From Loosening
In ancient times, there was a prescription called “Diversifolius poplar resin powder.”
Diversifolius poplar resin was derived from the sap of poon trees, known for their healing properties. Combined with other ingredients like Persian saltwort, gallstone, and cloves, they were ground into a fine powder. Applying this powder to the teeth helped prevent them from loosening and falling out.
Additionally, staying hydrated and drinking plenty of water are important for teeth health. It is essential to develop good oral hygiene habits, including the daily use of dental floss and interdental brushes to remove debris from hard-to-reach areas, ensuring overall dental cleanliness.
Tooth Discomfort Indicates Underlying Organ Issues
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has discovered that there is a “meridian” system in the human body that is responsible for transporting “qi” and blood throughout the body. The two substances of qi and blood circulate to maintain balance and stability in various tissues and organs. When the meridian system is blocked, it will affect the transport of substances, and allow abnormalities to appear in the human body.
There are 12 main meridians corresponding to the 12 internal organs, from which they circulate further towards the hands, feet, head, and face. When things go wrong with one of the internal organs, the discomfort will occur at various points along the corresponding meridian paths.
According to TCM, tooth pain can be categorized as upper tooth pain, lower tooth pain, or general toothache. Upper tooth pain relates to the stomach meridian, while lower tooth pain is associated with problems with the large intestine meridian.
In TCM, many diseases are believed to be caused by forces in our environment. These forces are referred to as the six external pathogenic influences, categorized as wind, cold, heat, dryness, dampness, and summer heat. Drinking mung bean soup can alleviate stomach heat while consuming bananas can alleviate heat in the large intestine.
If both upper and lower teeth feel sore and sensitive, then it is a dental problem that falls under the kidney meridian. Foods such as mulberries and kiwis that nourish the kidney meridian can help clear its deficiency heat.
According to the TCM theory, the kidneys govern the bones, and teeth are considered an extension of the bones. Thus, nourishing the kidneys helps strengthen both bones and teeth. Incorporating black-colored foods into your diet, such as black beans, black sesame seeds, black fungus, and Silkie chicken, can promote dental strength.