How Acupuncture Can Treat Toothache Pain

What is older? The ancient Chinese practice of acupuncture? Or the practice of dentistry? Acupuncture began eight millenia ago when early practitioners began to understand that pain was attributable to blockages in energy pathways. Acupuncturists could release those obstacles with knives and fishbone and, by doing so, relieve pain. 

Dentistry is much older than that. An apparently infected tooth, partially cleaned by flint implements, was found by archaeologists and dated to approximately fourteen millennia ago. In 2017, the authors of a study theorized that Neanderthals were using some rough form of dental tools as early as 130,000 years ago.

By a long shot, then, the earliest dentistry is much older than the earliest forms of acupuncture. Second question, though. What does acupuncture have to do with dentistry?

Acupuncture treatment relieves toothache pain

Acupuncture treatment can relieve the toothache pain that you may experience after dental procedures. Even better news, though, is that acupuncture and dentistry have come a long ways from knives, fishbones, and flint implements. Modern and sophisticated acupuncture therapy in Calgary can relieve dental pain by releasing toxins and improving circulation around the area of the aching tooth. A chiropractor in Calgary uses acupuncture to open channels that access your lower or upper jaw as required.

Acupuncture therapy near you targets acupuncture points — sometimes called acupoints that fall along energy pathways that traverse the body called meridians. Acupoints are areas on your skin that relate to — though not necessarily located near —parts and functions of your body. Acupuncturists pierce your skin using slender needles to manipulate and balance the flow of chi or qi — sometimes referred to as energy or life force — in the body to ease pain. There are three acupuncture points for easing tooth pain.

Point ST-7

The ST-7 below the joint point is located along the body’s stomach meridian, in front of your ear where your jaw meets your collarbone. Insertion of a sterile needle into that cavity can ease pain along your lower jaw, and even around your mouth and in your digestion system generally.

Point ST-6

The ST-6 acupoint is usually referred to as the jawbone. It is also along the body’s stomach meridian, and located in front of the mandible hinge over your masseter muscle.

Point TH-21

The TH-21 acupoint is sometimes referred to as the ear gate. It’s located where your ear meets the bone of your jaw. Manipulating this acupoint relieves toothache pain in your upper jaw. Unlike ST-7 and ST-6, the TH-21 acupoint is along the body’s triple heater meridian that influences heat and yang energy in the body and, in turn, influences head, navel, and chest functions.

Acupuncture is a complementary therapy

Acupuncture therapy near you for the treatment of toothache pain is a natural, useful, and effective therapy for treating toothache pain. It’s important to understand, though, that it is a complementary therapy and not intended to replace appropriate dental and even medical treatment. Occasional, temporary, and minor toothache pain is common and effectively treated by many home remedies, as well as through acupuncture.

If toothache pain persists or worsens, or is accompanied by swelling or fever, you should immediately seek advice from your dentist or an emergency dentist. Your chiropractor in Calgary will encourage you to receive all appropriate dental advice and treatment.

Are you interested in traditional but advanced, and natural but effective, remedies for toothache pain? Acupuncture treatment by a chiropractor near you has been shown to provide relief from toothaches. If you’d like our help to achieve relief from toothache pain via acupuncture, ask your dentist for a referral or reach out to a chiropractor near you.