Ear pain caused by a TMJ disorder might be a dull, ongoing irritation or it could be a sharp, searing pain, depending on its cause and the affected tissues. The pain may worsen with jaw movement, although this is not always the case.
Patients can experience ear pain or clogged ears that they might pass off as an ear infection or allergies but is actually from TMD. TMD can also cause tinnitus (ringing in the ears from nerve irritation). If your ears regularly have pain, stuffiness, or ringing, it's best to get examined for TMJ.
TMJ disorders can result in a sensation of pressure or fullness in the ear, as well as other conditions such as tinnitus (ringing in the ears). The causes may include nerve irritation and changes at the base of the skull, or dysfunction in the muscles of the neck associated with TMD.
Your TMJs are the foundation for the jaw muscles that allow you to chew, yawn and talk. If the muscles and ligaments around the joints become inflamed or irritated, it can cause temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD). Dizziness (vertigo), ear congestion and ringing are among the symptoms of TMD.
At times, TMJ-related ear pressure can last only a few minutes to several hours. However, the ear pressure can also last for several days, weeks, or even months in some cases. It's crucial to note that TMJ symptoms can turn chronic if left untreated.
If you are experiencing a lot of pressure in your ears from TMJ pain, something that may help you is sucking on different foods. This can help you relieve pressure and can ease your ear pain. Using a straw with your drinks can help. Otherwise, you can suck on hard candy, cough drops, or anything else you have on hand!
EUSTACHIAN TUBE BLOCKAGE can be caused by an inflamed TMJ or sustained increase in resting tonus of the tensor veli palatini muscle. The eustachian tubes pass just behind the TMJs, where increased fluid pressure from TMJ inflammation can push them closed.
Because the ear and jaw structures are closely interrelated, about 80% of people with TMJ experience ear-related symptoms, and at least 40% experience vertigo.
Common causes include fluid in the middle ear, hay fever, allergies or over-excessive nose blowing. Ear pain can be associated with ear congestion in cases of infections or with airplane travel, with sudden changes in barometric pressure, which most often occurs during descent.
TMJ can cause muscle tension and spasms in the facial muscles, leading to involuntary twitching in the eye or eyelid. This twitching can be uncomfortable and may affect your vision temporarily.
Recurring jaw pain, stiffness, and reduced jaw function are tell-tale signs of a TMJ disorder. But sometimes, symptoms are much more visible. Facial swelling is a possible side effect of TMJ disorders, and it shouldn't be ignored.
Several TMJ-related causes can cause stuffiness of the ear; tension in some of the jaw muscles can actually trigger tension in the stapedius muscle, the muscle of the inner ear. When this occurs, the eardrum tenses and can give a sense of stuffiness or diminished hearing.
TMJ can also cause problems with the jaw muscles, leading to discomfort or constant pain when chewing, yawning, or talking. Additionally, TMJ has been associated with a range of neurological disorders, including headaches, dizziness, and tingling or numbness in the face or jaw.
TMJ tinnitus sounds like a high-pitched ringing sound, or even a clicking, buzzing, roaring or hissing sound. The sound may change as you open and close your jaw, which can be an indication that your TMJ disorder and tinnitus are linked.
Other Causes of Jaw and Facial Pain: Certain other conditions including facial trauma, an abscessed tooth, or herpes zoster (shingles) can also cause pain similar to symptoms of TMJ disorder.
There are four tiny muscles which assist in the opening of the Eustachian tube. One of these, the hammer muscle, is one of the two main muscles in the middle ear. Poor performance of Eustachian tube muscles can be the result of muscular tension or poor muscular tone in the head, neck and jaw areas.
Clicking or popping sounds. A feeling of fullness in your ears. Pain that mimics an ear infection. Dizziness, vertigo or balance problems.
TMJ disorder affects the joints on either side of the head, both of which connect to the jaw. When there is any sort of dysfunction, the result is a disorder, which is often diagnosed, treated and managed by a general dentist.
TMJ can flare up at any time, and the condition can commonly last between two days and a few weeks. Consuming soft foods and applying cool or hot packs to your facial area can help to relieve pain but are not a permanent fix.
Recovery Time
The good news is that most TMJ symptoms will clear up in no more than three weeks typically.
If the pain is severe enough, patients may restrict their diet to liquids and soft foods, which can lead to malnutrition in the long-term. Loss of jaw cartilage and bone mass: Without corrective measures, TMD can permanently damage the jaw.