Sound Advice

Tinnitus and Its Relationship to Your TMJ Disorder

So many things can cause or contribute to your tinnitus. Many people are not aware that in some instances their tinnitus may be affected by jaw misalignment. The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is located on both sides of the head and attaches the lower jaw to the skull. This joint controls the jaws many movements, including chewing, talking and yawning. Dysfunction of this joint can result from changes in position of the teeth, tooth decay, fillings, loss of teeth and teeth grinding. Symptoms may include head, neck, shoulder or back pain, dizziness and TINNITUS! The muscles surrounding the TMJ must compensate for the misalignment and, therefore, are unable to relax as they should. The exact causal relationship between TMJ disorders and tinnitus is not completely understood. However, the structures of the TMJ lie very close to those of the inner ear. Therefore, misalignments of the jaw may result in excessive pressure on the ear structures and could, in severe cases, even lead to certain types of hearing loss. Individuals with tinnitus may notice fluctuations in the intensity or quality of their tinnitus when they move or clench their jaw. Some studies have shown that achieving proper alignment of the jaw can help to relief some symptoms of tinnitus.

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