Tinnitus can be a horrible diagnosis for many people. If you are diagnosed with tinnitus, you might also be told there’s no treatment. Many people experience tinnitus that worsens over time to the point that some tinnitus sufferers commit suicide.

However, not all types of tinnitus are untreatable. If your tinnitus is related to TMJ, temporomandibular joint disorders, then TMJ treatment can often eliminate the sounds in your ears as well as other related symptoms. Tinnitus is common in people with TMJ, but how do you know if TMJ is responsible for your tinnitus? Only a comprehensive exam can say for sure, but here are some signs that you should get a TMJ exam. This is important because, unlike many other forms of tinnitus, we can cure TMJ-related tinnitus.

No Other Cause

You first have to ask whether there are other potential causes for your tinnitus. Often, an ear, nose, and throat doctor can help eliminate some of these causes, such as:

  • Hearing loss
  • Middle ear obstructions
  • Ear and sinus infections
  • Head or neck injuries
  • Certain medications

Hearing loss that leads to tinnitus can have many causes, including exposure to very loud noises, which might be both recreational and professional. A hearing test should be the first step in identifying the cause of your tinnitus.

Middle ear obstructions can affect hearing because they change the pressure in the ear. When the pressure in the ear is different from the outside air pressure, it can interfere with hearing or create sound artifacts. 

Ear and sinus infections are one potential cause of middle ear obstructions, but they can also contribute to tinnitus on their own. 

Injuries to the head or neck can affect the structures of the ear, the nerves that link the ear to the brain, or the brain structures linked to hearing. 

Tinnitus can be a side effect of your medications. It might be an unusual side effect that your doctor has not mentioned, so it’s worthwhile to ask your doctor directly if any of your prescription medications might cause tinnitus. Then, you can look for an alternative or change your dosage to see if it eliminates your tinnitus or reduces its severity. 

Once you’ve eliminated other causes of tinnitus, you need to consider that TMJ might be the cause.

Signs That TMJ is the Cause of Your Tinnitus

Your Tinnitus Is Severe and Disabling

Recent research suggests that more severe tinnitus is more likely to be linked to TMJ. In this study, people with TMJ reported tinnitus that was about 12% louder, 33% more likely to be annoying, and 47% more handicapping. People with TMJ and tinnitus also had a significantly lower quality of life than those with tinnitus alone.

Moving Your Jaw Alters the Sounds

Studies have shown that tinnitus is more likely related to TMJ if it changes when you move your jaw. This is sometimes called either somatosensory tinnitus or somatic tinnitus. If you are experiencing TMJ, try modulating it by moving your jaw. You might experience changes in pitch or volume.

There are many potential links between TMJ and tinnitus. It could be related to jaw muscles that also attach to your ear. The jaw could put pressure on nerves that carry signals from the ear to the brain. It could be related to the jaw joints placing pressure on the temporal bone, which houses the inner ear. But in all these cases, moving the jaw affects the configuration and, therefore, can alter tinnitus.

Tinnitus Appears after Intense Jaw Activity

Jaw activity can be a strong trigger for TMJ-related tinnitus. If you have been working your jaw hard, such as doing public speaking, eating a meal that’s hard to chew, or clenching your jaw due to stress, it can often trigger your TMJ and, therefore, your tinnitus.

If you notice tinnitus mostly flares up during or after these times of intense jaw activity, you could easily have TMJ-related tinnitus.

You Have Other TMJ Symptoms

Most people with TMJ don’t have just one symptom (although that’s possible). Instead, TMJ is notorious for the wide range of symptoms it causes. So watch out for other TMJ-symptoms, such as jaw pain, TMJ pain, headaches, and numbness or tingling.

A Treatable Form of Tinnitus

As noted above, many tinnitus sufferers are told there’s no cure. But that’s not true for TMJ-related tinnitus, and we know because we’ve helped many of our patients get relief from tinnitus, such as Isabella, who had been told that her tinnitus was untreatable. But in just four months, Isabella experienced a cure for her tinnitus, as well as her migraines. TMJ treatment can come in many forms, including a bite splint, orthodontics, or full mouth reconstruction. Once we have a solid diagnosis, we can discuss treatment planning to connect you to the treatment that will work best for you. 

If you suspect TMJ might be causing your tinnitus in Detroit, we can help you find out for sure. Please call (248) 480-0085 today or use our online contact form to request an appointment with a TMJ Dentist at the Michigan Center for TMJ & Sleep Wellness in Rochester Hills.