A persistent ringing in your ears can affect your daily life. Many factors can cause tinnitus, like TMJ disorders. Your temporomandibular joints (TMJ) are located on either side of your face, connecting your jaw to your school. When the joints function incorrectly, it can lead to a variety of issues, including ringing or humming in your ears. Here’s what you can do to stop the buzzing.
What is a TMJ Disorder?
Your TMJs allow you to open and close your mouth and make other movements necessary for your health and quality of life. Inflammation or injuries to the joints can cause them to function incorrectly, leading to pain and many other complications. Although various factors contribute to TMJ disorders, the most common causes include:
- Uneven bite
- Injuries
- Arthritis
- Bruxism
Symptoms of TMJ Disorder
A sore jaw isn’t the only symptom of a TMJ disorder. It can produce a variety of symptoms that come and go or get progressively worse, like:
- Clicking, popping, or grating sound in the jaw
- Headaches
- Difficulty opening or closing the mouth
- Jaw locking in an open or closed position
- Neck or shoulder pain
- Ear and facial pain
- Tinnitus
Tinnitus and TMJ Disorders
The cochlea is part of the inner ear that transforms sound waves into electric impulses that the brain translates to sounds. Small hairs in the cochlea can be damaged, which can lead to tinnitus. Ringing, humming, or buzzing sounds can occur that no one else can hear.
TMJ disorders can cause irritation and inflammation in the joints that can affect the inner parts of the ear, including the cochlea. This can result in persistent noise within your ear.
Stop the Ringing with TMJ Therapy
You can stop tinnitus caused by TMD with a personalized treatment plan. Your TMJ specialist will examine your mouth, oral structures, and diagnostic images to establish a strategy to improve your jaw functions, like orthodontics or an oral appliance. When combined with exercises at home and diet changes, you can improve your TMJ symptoms, including tinnitus.
Don’t let ringing in your ears stop you from feeling your best. TMJ therapy can give you the relief you need while enhancing the mobility of your jaw. You won’t have to think twice before yawning or chomping down on a juicy hamburger.
About Dr. Pamela West
Dr. West has over 3 decades of experience in dentistry and sleep medicine. After earning her dental degree from the University of Southern California Dental School, she has regularly continued her education to focus on sleep medicine and many other specialties. If you need treatment for TMD, request an appointment online or call (702) 602-4000.