How to manage tooth marks on the tongue
Nov 07, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Sun Lianqing
Introduction
Tongue teeth marks are often associated with excessive dampness in the body and weak spleen and stomach functions. Regulation can be achieved through a dampness-removing diet, strengthening the spleen and stomach, moderate exercise, emotional balance, and auxiliary Traditional Chinese Medicine methods, all of which require long-term adherence to improve constitution. If tongue teeth marks are accompanied by obvious bloating, loose stools, or worsening fatigue, prompt medical consultation is recommended. For dampness removal through diet: reduce consumption of raw, cold, greasy, and overly sweet foods.
Teeth marks on the tongue are often associated with excessive dampness in the body and weakened spleen and stomach function. Management may include dietary adjustments to resolve dampness, strengthening the spleen and stomach, moderate exercise, emotional regulation, and complementary traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) approaches. Long-term adherence is required to improve constitution. If teeth marks on the tongue are accompanied by significant bloating, loose stools, or worsening fatigue, prompt medical consultation is recommended.
1. Dietary dampness removal: Reduce intake of raw, cold, greasy, and overly sweet foods. Increase consumption of dampness-resolving foods such as red beans, poria (Fuling), and winter melon. Use ginger and Sichuan pepper in cooking to warm the body and disperse dampness, helping prevent further accumulation of dampness that can worsen tongue teeth marks.
2. Strengthening the spleen and stomach: Maintain regular meal times and avoid overeating or extreme dieting. Consume spleen-nourishing foods such as yam, millet, and pumpkin in moderation to reduce the digestive burden on the spleen and stomach, thereby improving the body’s metabolism of dampness.
3. Moderate exercise: Choose gentle forms of exercise such as brisk walking, yoga, or tai chi, and practice 3–5 times per week for about 30 minutes each session. Exercise helps promote blood and qi circulation, accelerate the elimination of dampness, and improve internal damp stagnation.
4. Emotional regulation: Prolonged anxiety or depression can impair spleen and stomach function. Stress can be alleviated through listening to music, meditation, or talking with others. Maintaining emotional stability supports healthy functioning of the digestive system.
5. TCM support: Under professional guidance, use TCM therapies such as moxibustion or cupping for regulation. Alternatively, consider herbal remedies like poria, white atractylodes (Baizhu), and dried tangerine peel (Chenpi) brewed as a tea to help resolve dampness, strengthen the spleen, and alleviate symptoms of tongue teeth marks.
During the调理 period, avoid staying up late and ensure adequate sleep; dry off promptly after sweating to prevent invasion by external dampness; maintain good oral hygiene after brushing to minimize oral issues that could affect overall health.
