Most Effective Acupressure Points for Toothache
Remember that toothache a while back? It throbbed, you didn’t have time to get to the dentist, and you only made it the next day. You rolled around all night praying it would end.
Toothache is one of the worst pains there is, young or old. Pressing specific acupressure points can give you fast relief until you can visit the dentist.
Toothache is common, too. Everyone gets tooth pain at some point. There are several causes, but with the right oral hygiene and dental care you can prevent a lot of them.
So if your tooth pain isn’t too severe, try these acupressure points for a toothache.
What causes a toothache?
Lots of things can cause tooth pain. Here are the common ones:
- Abscessed Tooth
- Accumulation of food between the teeth
- Grinding Teeth
- Gum infection or root infection
- Sinus infection
- Trauma or Injury
- Tooth Decay
- Tooth Fracture
How can you relieve the toothache?
You can relieve the pain by applying pressure to the points below. You don’t need to work them all. Try one, see what helps you most, and stick with that.
Acupressure Points Face for Toothache
SI18 – Small Intestine 18 Point
Start with this one. It’s one of the main acupoints for toothache, and people usually use it before the others. The Cheek Bone Hole point sits at the lower edge of your cheekbone, straight down from the outer corner of your eye and across the lower border of the nose. Apply firm pressure on both sides with your index and middle finger for a minute. Breathe deeply while you do it. It helps soothe the pain. You can also use this spot to treat jaw swelling, twitching eyes, facial spasms, and temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ disorder).
ST6 – Stomach 6 Point
Here’s another helpful point for a toothache. The jaw joint sits in the middle of your upper and lower jaw, on the muscle in front of your earlobe. It sticks out when you clench your back teeth, so it’s easy to feel. Apply firm pressure to both sides with your thumbs for a minute. You can use it to relieve TMJ, jaw pain, cheek swelling, and more.
Acupressure Points Hands and Arms for a Toothache
LI4 – Large Intestine 4 Point
LI4 is a popular acupoint for chronic pain. It gives decongestant relief for headaches, toothaches, fever, eye problems, and other conditions. You can also use it to induce labor, so avoid it if you’re pregnant. The Union Valley is at the highest point of the web between your thumb and index finger when you bring them together.
TW13 – Triple Warner 13 Point
This is another useful spot for tooth pain. The Shoulder Meeting point is on the outer side of your upper arm, one thumb width on the back of the base of the upper arm and two finger widths towards your shoulder. Press both arms, steady pressure with your fingers, for a minute, until the pain subsides. Breathe deeply. If you get tennis elbow, arm pain, or shoulder pain, it helps soothe those areas too.
SJ2 – San Jiao 2 Point
This one isn’t well known, but it gives good relief from tooth pain. The Fluid Gate is on the dorsum of your hand, near the web between your 4th and 5th fingers. Work both acupoints, on both sides, with strong pressure from one finger for a minute. It also helps with sore throat, eye problems, malaria, and earache.
SJ5 – San Jiao 5 Point
SJ5 is the connecting point between your Yang Linking Vessel and the arm. It helps clear hearing and ease pain. The acupoints are located two cun to the dorsal crease of your wrist, on the joining line to SJ4 between the radius and ulna. Applying pressure relieves a toothache and helps with pain in the fingers, hand tremors, and elbow pain.
Acupressure Points Feet and Legs for a Toothache
ST44 – Stomach 44 Point
Use this acupoint when you want quick results for a toothache. The Inner Court point is easy to reach, on the top of your foot in the web between your 2nd and 3rd toes. Press both feet with your index finger for a minute. It also helps soothe toothache, gastric pain, eye problems, and digestive disorders.
KD 3 – Kidney 3 Point
The Great Ravine is in the hollow between the tips of your medial malleolus and tendo calcaneus on the medial side of your foot. Apply pressure to the acupoint on both feet. Keep the pressure firm, using your thumbs, for a minute. This helps soothe toothache, eye problems, headaches, insomnia, coughing, and more.
Final Thoughts:
With these acupressure points for a toothache, you can say goodbye to that nagging pain for a while. If the pain in your teeth keeps coming back, though, visit your dentist and get it checked today. The technique has no side effects and can help with symptoms such as cheek swelling, headaches, earaches, and more.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Jian Times
Last updated: October 22, 2026