Jaw Problems and Tinnitus

Can jaw problems cause tinnitus over time? As it turns out, sometimes they can!

But how does that work, exactly? Well, first you need to know that tinnitus can be caused by (often involuntary) tension in the jaw muscles. That tension can affect the eardrum tensor muscle (the tensor tympani), which is supposed to prevent the eardrum from vibrating too much and causing a buzzing in the ear. Changes to the muscle can also damage the cilia, auditory sensory cells that line the inner ear and are responsible for picking up and amplifying sound signals. Finally, repeated muscle contractions can cause inflammation in the trigeminal nerve, which runs into the lower and upper jaw and plays a role in both the jaw and the ear.

The Jaw Under Pressure!

One known cause of this inflammation is bruxism—grinding your teeth. It’s an unconscious movement that puts excessive pressure on the muscles, tissues, and structures surrounding the jaw, especially the masticatory muscles, or “chewing muscles”. That pressure, in turn, can cause tinnitus. Another type of jaw dysfunction that can induce tinnitus is Costen’s syndrome, which causes all of the muscles in the jaw to over-contract when chewing. Other symptoms include a feeling of plugged ears and unpleasant pressure in the ears. Finally, some tinnitus can be the result of a misalignment of the temporomandibular joint. If so, realigning the jaw could do more than just reduce muscle tension and realign the teeth; it could also attenuate your tinnitus.

Talk to a Professional

It’s important to see a qualified professional, like an ENT specialist or a dentist, to confirm whether you have a jaw problem and identify the cause. From there, you may be referred to a physiotherapist or prescribed pain medication. That said, it’s important to know that while we understand that temporomandibular disorders (TMD) can cause tinnitus, treating them won’t necessarily make the tinnitus go away.

If you have any questions about your hearing, talk to your hearing health professional.

Caroline Guay

Audioprosthetist practicing in Quebec City – Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures

References - Les acouphènes peuvent-ils découler de problèmes dentaires? - Traiteracouphenes.fr. (n.d.). Traiter-acouphenes.fr. https://www.traiter-acouphenes.fr/ les-acouphenes-peuvent-ils-decouler-de-problemes-dentaires/ - Kamami, Y.-V. (n.d.). Les acouphènes peuvent-ils provenir de vos dents? https://dr-kamami-orl-paris.fr/content/les-acouphènes-peuvent-ils-provenirde-vos-dents

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