Chinese medicine has taught for centuries that teeth are connected to other parts of the body in some way. There are also pressure points in certain parts of the body that is connected with specific organs. This is where Chinese acupuncture is based on. A tooth meridian chart does a better job in explaining this connection. A tooth meridian chart is simply a map correlating each tooth to its connected organs. To understand how it came to be, you need to understand how it works.
Chi and Meridians: Blocking and Freeing the Flow of Energy in the Body
In Chinese medicine, the energy that flows in the body is called "chi" and it circulates through the body along pathways called "meridians". When the energy flows freely, good health is maintained. However, when chi is blocked, you may experience pain, illness, or other symptoms as a result.
The Tooth Meridian Chart in Relation to Dentistry
When a tooth becomes infected, Chinese medicine believes that creates an imbalance that blocks the flow of chi energy. Whatever organ system is connected to that tooth becomes affected as well by showing other unrelated symptoms. This is why they believe overall health is also compromised.
Here are examples of 3 tooth meridian charts:
Simply put, if a patient experiences problems with a particular tooth, Chinese medicine doctors will use this chart to reveal other areas of the body that may also be affected. This may help explain the TMJ-digestion link we have previously written about. While Dr. Reese is not a Chinese medicine doctor, he does understand that everything in the body works together, which is why he's become a holistic dentist in Indianapolis that practices biological dentistry.
Biological dentistry addresses dental problems by eliminating imbalances and restoring the oral cavity back to its balanced energetic condition. In holistic dentistry, it is believed that certain systemic conditions can correct themselves when dental concerns are addressed and fixed. For example, headache, joint pain or heart palpitations are symptoms unrelated to tooth infections but once the infections are treated, they also go away.
Our Commitment to You
Whether it’s biological, cosmetic, preventive, or general dental care, our goal is to help you reach your wellness goals through optimum dental health.
Dr. Ted Reese, DDS, MAGD is an Indianapolis holistic dentist practicing integrated dentistry. At Indianapolis Dentistry we are proud to be offering a state-of-the-art dental office combined with the knowledge and concerns for your entire body health. This is known as Biological, Holistic,Whole Body, or Biocompatible Dentistry. Our focus is not only the health of your teeth and gums, but of your entire body that may be affected by improper restorations, poor occlusion, or periodontal infection.