Acupuncture Points for Orthodontic Pain

6 sourced protocols, each with its citation.

Each card names its evidence kind. What these labels mean

Protocol (2 points)

100%

ST03 · ST06

ST03Great Bone Hole

ST03 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 巨髎 (jù liáo)

🎯 Location: Directly below pupil at the level of the lower border of the ala nasi on the lateral side of the nasolabial groove.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep needling on face.

🛡️ Treats: Wind, Swelling, Pain, Facial Droop, Nosebleed

ST06Jaw Bone

ST06 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 頰車 (jiá chē)

🎯 Location: One finger breadth (middle finger) anterior & superior to the lower angle of the mandible where masseter is prominent when teeth are clenched & depressive when it is pressed.

⚠️ Cautions: Needle shallowly and obliquely; avoid the facial artery and deep needling into the joint capsule.

🛡️ Treats: Wind, Pain, Deviation Eye, Facial Droop, Mumps

Study-reported

Acupressure · a 5-day course

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1016/j.jtumed.2026.01.003 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST06 also appears in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1590/2176-9451.19.4.100-106.oar ↗
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Protocol (5 points)

100%

LU07 · LI04 · LI06 · LI11 · XH03

LU07Interrupted Sequence

LU07 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Lung Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 列缺 (liè quē)

🎯 Location: Superior to the styloid process of the radius 1.5 thumb widths above the transverse crease of the wrist between brachioradialis and tendon of the abductor policis longus.

⚠️ Cautions: Use with caution in patients with radial nerve sensitivity.

🛡️ Treats: Heat Chest, Cough, Fever, Shortness of Breath, Phlegm

LI04Junction Valley

LI04 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Large Intestine Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 合谷 (hé gǔ)

🎯 Location: On the dorsum of the hand between 1st & 2nd metacarpal bones approximately in the middle of the 2nd metacarpal bone on the radial side.

⚠️ Cautions: Traditionally forbidden in pregnancy – these are the points used to bring on labour at term. Controlled data show no excess of preterm birth or stillbirth (Carr 2015), but in pregnancy needle only on a clear obstetric indication.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Tinnitus, Release Exterior, Absent Periods, Wind

LI06Diverging Passage

LI06 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Large Intestine Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 偏歷 (piān lì)

🎯 Location: With elbow flexed and radial side of the arm upward, point is on the line connecting LI05 and LI11 3 thumb widths above the crease of the wrist.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Tinnitus, Heat, Wind, Elbow Pain, Shoulder Pain

LI11Pond At The Bend

LI11 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Large Intestine Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 曲池 (qū chí)

🎯 Location: When elbow is flexed point is in the depression the at the lateral end of the transverse cubital crease midway between LU05 and lateral epicondyle of the humerus.

⚠️ Cautions: Monitor blood pressure and avoid strong stimulation where hypertension is uncontrolled or unstable; hypertensive crisis is a medical emergency. Avoid excessive stimulation in weak patients.

🛡️ Treats: Diarrhea, Dizziness, Heat, Vomiting, Abdominal Bloating

XH03Hall Of Impression Or Seal Hall

XH03 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Extra Points: Head

🇨🇳 Chinese: 印堂 (yìn táng)

🎯 Location: At the glabella, at the midpoint between the medial extremities of the eyebrows.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Anxiety, Dizziness, Wind, Facial Pain, Insomnia

Study-reported

Laser · 1 session

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1007/s10103-025-04435-6 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LI04 also appears in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1590/2176-9451.19.4.100-106.oar ↗

Protocol (2 points)

100%

LI04 · ST06

LI04Junction Valley

LI04 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Large Intestine Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 合谷 (hé gǔ)

🎯 Location: On the dorsum of the hand between 1st & 2nd metacarpal bones approximately in the middle of the 2nd metacarpal bone on the radial side.

⚠️ Cautions: Traditionally forbidden in pregnancy – these are the points used to bring on labour at term. Controlled data show no excess of preterm birth or stillbirth (Carr 2015), but in pregnancy needle only on a clear obstetric indication.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Tinnitus, Release Exterior, Absent Periods, Wind

ST06Jaw Bone

ST06 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 頰車 (jiá chē)

🎯 Location: One finger breadth (middle finger) anterior & superior to the lower angle of the mandible where masseter is prominent when teeth are clenched & depressive when it is pressed.

⚠️ Cautions: Needle shallowly and obliquely; avoid the facial artery and deep needling into the joint capsule.

🛡️ Treats: Wind, Pain, Deviation Eye, Facial Droop, Mumps

Study-reported

Needling · 3 sessions over 90 days

Improved from baseline; no control group

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1590/2176-9451.19.4.100-106.oar ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST06 also appears in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1016/j.jtumed.2026.01.003 ↗
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Protocol (8 points)

100%

AT07 · AT12 · CYC01 · CYC05 · EL05 · EL06 · HCS03 · TF10

AT07Occiput

AT07 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Auricular Points

🇨🇳 Chinese: 枕 (zhěn)

🎯 Location: On both ears, located at the lower lateral line of the Exterior Antitragus. At the midpoint between Temple and Brain Stem.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Dizziness, Vertigo, Convulsion

AT12Nervous Subcortex

AT12 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Auricular Points

🇨🇳 Chinese: 神經皮質下 (shén jīng pí zhì xià)

🎯 Location: On both ears, at the lower 1/2 of the interior wall of the Antitragus; in the midpoint between Thalamus and the beginning of the medial lower line of the interior Antitragus.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Neurosis, Schizophrenia

CYC01Stomach

CYC01 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Auricular Points

🇨🇳 Chinese: 胃 (wèi)

🎯 Location: At the area where Helix Crus disappears.

⚠️ Cautions: Adjunctive only – haematemesis, melaena or unremitting epigastric pain needs urgent medical assessment. Strict asepsis: perichondritis of the auricular cartilage is the significant risk with ear needling.

🛡️ Treats: Vomiting, Toothache, Nausea, Belching, Gastritis

CYC05Large Intestine

CYC05 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Auricular Points

🇨🇳 Chinese: 大腸 (dà cháng)

🎯 Location: Superior to the inner 1/3 of the Helix Crus.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Constipation, Dermatosis, Diarrhea, Bronchitis And Tracheitis, Disorders Of The Nose And Throat

EL05Upper Jaw

EL05 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Auricular Points

🇨🇳 Chinese: 上頜 (shàng hé)

🎯 Location: In the center of Area 3 of the Earlobe

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Toothache, Periodontitis, Trigeminal Neuralgia, Temporomandibular Joint Disorder, Bleeding Gums

EL06Lower Jaw

EL06 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Auricular Points

🇨🇳 Chinese: 下頜 (xià hé)

🎯 Location: Middle point of the upper line of Area 3 on the Earlobe

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Toothache, Periodontitis, Trigeminal Neuralgia, Temporomandibular Joint Disorder, Bleeding Gums

HCS03Mouth

HCS03 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Auricular Points

🇨🇳 Chinese: 口 (kǒu)

🎯 Location: At the middle 1/3 part inferior to the Helix Crus.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Fatigue, Insomnia, Lumbago, Stomatitis, Periodontitis

TF10Shenmen

TF10 acupoint
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Click to enlarge

🗺️ Meridian: Auricular Points

🇨🇳 Chinese: 神門 (shén mén)

🎯 Location: At the midpoint between Pelvis and Hepatitis.

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Pain, Inflammation, Restless Spirit, Emotional And Mental Disorders

Study-reported

Acupressure

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1590/2177-6709.26.6.e2119381.oar ↗
Not corroborated. No other study in the index uses any of these points for this search.
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Protocol (2 points)

100%

ST03 · EL01

ST03Great Bone Hole

ST03 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Stomach Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 巨髎 (jù liáo)

🎯 Location: Directly below pupil at the level of the lower border of the ala nasi on the lateral side of the nasolabial groove.

⚠️ Cautions: Avoid deep needling on face.

🛡️ Treats: Wind, Swelling, Pain, Facial Droop, Nosebleed

EL01Tooth

EL01 acupoint
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Click to enlarge

🗺️ Meridian: Auricular Points

🇨🇳 Chinese: 牙 (yá)

🎯 Location: Center of Area 1 of the Earlobe

⚠️ Cautions: No specific contraindications.

🛡️ Treats: Toothache

Study-reported

Electrical stimulation on the skin · 14 sessions over 7 days

Did better than a waitlist

Point selection reported in a published study.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
Corroborated by a second study. ST03 also appears in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1016/j.jtumed.2026.01.003 ↗

Single-point entry

100%

LI04Junction Valley

LI04 acupoint
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🗺️ Meridian: Large Intestine Meridian

🇨🇳 Chinese: 合谷 (hé gǔ)

🎯 Location: On the dorsum of the hand between 1st & 2nd metacarpal bones approximately in the middle of the 2nd metacarpal bone on the radial side.

⚠️ Cautions: Traditionally forbidden in pregnancy – these are the points used to bring on labour at term. Controlled data show no excess of preterm birth or stillbirth (Carr 2015), but in pregnancy needle only on a clear obstetric indication.

🛡️ Treats: Fever, Tinnitus, Release Exterior, Absent Periods, Wind

Study-reported

Acupressure · a single day

Did better than a waitlist

Self-applied as needed for 24 h; beat no-treatment control, comparable to ibuprofen arm at most timepoints

Point selection reported in a published study.

doi:10.1007/s00056-023-00476-0 ↗
Corroborated by a second study. LI04 also appears in another study-reported protocol for the same search. A second publication is not necessarily a second research group. doi:10.1007/s10103-025-04435-6 ↗
Press Needles
1 box, $19.99
AcuiQ Self-Treatment Guide
Acupressure you can do at home, every protocol traced to a trial. – $12.99, free updates for life

Related symptoms

Often treated alongside Orthodontic Pain:

Points cited for Orthodontic Pain

How often each point appears across the 6 entries ranked highest for Orthodontic Pain. Citation frequency, not a recommendation.

  • LI04Junction ValleyLarge Intestine Meridian3 of 6
  • ST03Great Bone HoleStomach Meridian2 of 6
  • ST06Jaw BoneStomach Meridian2 of 6
  • AT07OcciputAuricular Points1 of 6
  • AT12Nervous SubcortexAuricular Points1 of 6
  • CYC01StomachAuricular Points1 of 6
  • CYC05Large IntestineAuricular Points1 of 6
  • EL01ToothAuricular Points1 of 6
  • EL05Upper JawAuricular Points1 of 6
  • EL06Lower JawAuricular Points1 of 6
  • HCS03MouthAuricular Points1 of 6
  • LI06Diverging PassageLarge Intestine Meridian1 of 6

How the studies delivered it

What the 6 studies behind the entries above ran, counted once per study. A record of the trials, not a recommendation.

  • Acupressure3 of 6
  • Laser1 of 6
  • Needling1 of 6
  • Electrical stimulation on the skin1 of 6

Sessions: the 3 studies that gave a count ran a median of 3 (middle half 2 to 9).

Course: the 5 studies that gave a length ran a median of 5 days (middle half 1 day to 7 days).

After a treatment: what large safety surveys recorded, and which reactions need a doctor.

Disclaimer: The acupoint information provided is for educational purposes only.