All About Meridian Tooth Charts
A meridian tooth chart takes the concept of the meridian system and applies it to the mouth. While the meridian system is ancient, it's unclear who created the first tooth chart. One study, published in SAGE Open, used a chart created by holistic dentists in 2011. Though there are many versions of meridian tooth charts, they all connect a particular tooth, such as the first incisor, to multiple glands, organs, muscles, joints or areas of the spine. The charts also often describe other relationships a particular tooth can have, such as contributing to feelings of fear and sadness or creating an emotional imbalance.
Although the exact formats of the charts vary, they generally feature an image of all 32 teeth (including the wisdom teeth) in an adult's mouth. The teeth are numbered one to 32. Next to the tooth appears a list or picture of the various organs and body parts connected to it. Some online charts are interactive and will pull up a list of the relevant body areas and organs when you click on different teeth.
Looking at a meridian tooth chart might be a fun way to while away an afternoon online, but it's not a good idea to put too much stock into the information you find on one. The American Dental Association only stands by dental practices that have been scientifically validated and proven safe. When it comes to tooth charts, there is no scientific evidence proving that, for instance, having a cavity in one of your molars will cause knee pain or pancreatitis.