Ear pain and ringing in the ears can turn into a nagging problem that follows you through the day. Ringing in the ears is technically called tinnitus. Often the cause is in the ear itself. But sometimes the pain comes from somewhere else nearby and is only felt in the ear. That’s called referred pain.
One of the most common sources of referred ear pain and ringing is the temporomandibular joint, or TMJ. Here’s what you need to know about how TMJ dysfunction causes earaches, and what to do about it.
Where is the temporomandibular joint?
Right in front of your ear. You have two temporomandibular joints, one on each side, connecting your jawbone to your skull. They let your mouth open and close with both a hinge motion and a sliding motion, and each one sits directly in front of the small flap at the front of your ear, called the tragus.
How does TMJ dysfunction cause ear pain?
Inflammation in the jaw joint and muscles sits so close to the ear that you feel it as ear pain, an earache or ringing.
The TMJ system includes your jawbone, both joints and the muscles that attach to them. Because your jaw connects on both sides of your head, it needs a delicate balance to work well.
Think of your jaw as a hammock hanging between two trees. Lie in the middle and it’s comfortable. Lie too far toward one tree, or too far to one side, and it feels unstable. Try to rock it in that position and it swings erratically. Stress builds on the hinges, and they snap against the trunks as the hammock swings out of rhythm.
Your jaw works the same way. When the system is unstable, it creates tension and inflammation. That’s TMJ dysfunction. When it’s behind your ear pain, the pain usually gets worse when you use your jaw: chewing, talking or clenching.
What are the symptoms of TMJ dysfunction?
Ear pain rarely comes alone. Symptoms vary from person to person, and they can come and go over time. The most common ones are:
- Headaches
- Clicking and popping when you open your mouth, painful or not
- A jaw that locks open or closed
- Pain or tenderness in the face, jaw joint, neck, shoulders or around the ear when you chew, talk or open wide
- A tired jaw when chewing or speaking
- Clenching your teeth without realizing it
- Grinding your teeth, medically called bruxism
- Trouble opening wide
- Sore muscles in the head and neck
- A dull earache
- Ringing in the ears, medically called tinnitus
- Depression
How do you relieve TMJ ear pain at home?
For short-term relief, take a pain reliever or anti-inflammatory and apply moist heat to the area. That eases the pain temporarily while the cause is sorted out.
Should you see a doctor or a dentist for ear pain?
It depends on your other symptoms. If the pain lasts more than a week, get it checked, and your other symptoms tell you where to start.
If ear pain is your only symptom and it came on suddenly, see your primary care physician or an ENT first to rule out an ear infection or inner ear problem. Signs of a true ear problem include fever, a recent cold, discharge, redness, allergies or hearing loss.
If you also have several of the TMJ symptoms above, and your ear pain keeps coming back over weeks or months, a TMJ dentist is likely the better first stop.
How is TMJ ear pain treated?
By treating the jaw problem behind it. I build every treatment plan around the patient’s symptoms and anatomy. Common options include orthodontics, adjusting the bite (occlusal equilibration), restorative dentistry, occlusal guards and orthotics, Botox and physical therapy. With the right approach from an experienced TMJ dentist, the pain fades.
Not close to Waltham? Patients from Brookline, Cambridge, Somerville, Newton, Wellesley, Concord, Lexington and Waltham can send photos and records before they travel, so Dr. Charles Sutera can review them first. Find us at 75 3rd Ave, Waltham, MA 02451, call (781) 487-1111, or read how TMJ evaluation and treatment work.
