TMJ Ear Pain West Kelowna

Why does a TMJ disorder make my ear hurt?

Your TMJ Joint (temporomandibular joint) is close to the auditory canal, so pain and inflammation in your TMJ can transfer to the ear. Ear ringing (also know as Tinnitus) can also be an effect of a TMJ disorder.

Because inflammation of TMJ dysfunction occurs in the temporomandibular joint and muscles near the ear, the inflammation caused by a TMJ problem can present itself as ear pain, or tinnitus. Symptoms of TMJ ear pain become usually apparent during chewing, speaking, or clenching.

An ENT specialist can examine your hearing and eardrum to determine if your earache is related to the TMJ.

tmj ear pain dentist west-kelowna

Where is the temporomandibular (TMJ) joint located?

The temporomandibular joints are the two joints that connect the jawbone to the skull. The primary function of the TMJ is to open and close the mouth in a rotating and sliding motion.

The TMJ joints are located on either side of your head, in front of your ears.

kelowna tmj ear pain

What patients say about Kelowna TMJ Dentist Dr. Shauna Palmer

[These are actual Google Reviews]

tmj ear pain treatment kelowna

Can TMJ ear pain be treated?

Yes, TMJ ear pain can be treated by TMJ Dentist Dr. Shauna Palmer in West-Kelowna.

Ear pain can have a multitude of causes and it doesn’t necessarily has to be a TMJ Disorder. When a misaligned bite affects your TMJ joint and it reveals itself through ear pain, there are multiple ways for treatment depending on the level and severity of the disorder.

West Kelowna dentist Dr. Shauna Palmer, applies a holistic, physiological approach to pain symptoms related to TMJ disorders. Simply put, the fact that ‘Everything in your body is connected’, requires a multi-factoral approach to TMJ Treatment.

In other words: When your bite is misaligned because of injury, missing teeth, decay, or any other reason, it might affect the TMJ joints, which could have a straining effect on other muscle groups. (Jaw, neck, shoulder, face, eyes and ears).

Dental treatment can restore the balance in your mouth and relax the stressed muscles that cause TMJ pain.

When you suffer from ear pain and suspect it is caused by a TMJ Disorder, consider a TMJ Diagnosis by Dr. Shauna Palmer at Health & Beauty dentistry, in West Kelowna.

tmj ear pain relief kelowna

Why choose Dr. Shauna Palmer?

Switch to a holistic approach

End Holistic Dentistry confusion
Don’t continue unhealthy dentistry
Avoid putting toxic chemicals into your body
Stop treating symptoms only, treat the causes
Forget about a one size fits all approach to dentistry

Live healthier, happier and longer

Take control over what goes into your mouth and body
Strive for the oral health you’ve always wanted
Find clarity about healthy, natural, holistic dentistry
Enjoy feeling better about yourself
Choose a healthier life!

Make an appointment today!

Health & Beauty Dentistry

Treating TMJ Disorder First

Do you deal with occasional – or even constant – ringing in your ears?

If so, you’re not alone. Millions of people suffer with this condition, called tinnitus. It can be one of the most annoying conditions you’ll ever have to deal with – and finding a natural treatment for tinnitus can be extremely difficult. Thankfully, your dentist can help. How so? A dentist can treat ear ringing by focusing not on the ringing itself, but on what may be the root cause: TMJ disorder.

What Is Tinnitus and How Is It Related to TMJ Disorder?

Tinnitus is a condition in which a person experiences occasional ear ringing. In more severe cases, the ringing may be constant and progressively louder.

Currently, there are no known cures for tinnitus, according to the medical community. However, there are some effective treatments available, especially if you talk to your dentist about your condition.

When I review a patient’s health history and see that they have tinnitus, one of the first things I do is ask them about pain. This is because TMJ disorder is often linked to tinnitus and can cause pain in the ears, around the eyes, in the jaw joint itself, as well as headaches or chronic migraines.

How are TMJ disorder and ear ringing linked? When the jaw is out of alignment, this strains the muscles, tendons, and nerves of the head and neck, including those that innervate the inner ear. Not only does this lead to pain, but it can also lead to ear ringing.

Natural Treatment for Tinnitus: Steps You Can Take at Home to Reduce Symptoms

There are various treatments that have proven effective for tinnitus. And if you have tinnitus that’s secondary to TMJ disorder, there are things you can do at home to reduce your symptoms.

Switch over to a Soft Food-based Diet

When the muscles of the head and neck are strained, chewing certain foods can exacerbate symptoms, including ear ringing. It’s best to reduce or eliminate the following, especially during a TMJ flare-up:

Hard to chew foods, like crusty bread
Chewy foods, like jerky, steak, or semi-hard caramel
Crunchy foods, like corn nuts, apples, and carrots
Chewing gum.

Stick to soft foods or liquids, such as smoothies, soups, yogurts, and pasta.

Reduce Tension with TMJ Exercises

You know that feeling you get when your hamstrings are really tight and you do a nice, long, deep stretch? The relief is incredible, isn’t it?

You can do the same thing for your jaw. When your facial muscles get tight, you can perform a number of jaw tension and stretching exercises that will give you fast relief.

Try Alternating Heat and Cold During a Flare-up

When you experience jaw pain, try alternating a hot pack and a cold pack, like a heating pad and a bag of frozen peas. Alternate every 15 minutes or so as needed. The heat will relax your muscles and the ice will reduce inflammation. Anti-inflammatory pain medication will also help.

How a Dentist Can Help: TMJ Treatment for Tinnitus and Pain Reduction

Would you like a natural treatment for tinnitus? Your dentist can help.

Clenching and grinding of the teeth can lead to a TMJ flare-up, with symptoms ranging from facial fatigue, a migraine, or ear ringing.

Seeing a dentist is crucial if you want to find relief. I can provide you with a custom-fit orthotic that has been a successful treatment for tinnitus for many of my patients. This device places the jaw in the ideal position, affectively correcting your bite while you wear it. This will reduce the stress placed on the jaw joints.

In many cases, the device can be disposed of once normal function is restored. In other cases, more treatment is needed, including bite equilibration, physiologic orthodontic treatment, or physiologic restorative treatment or a combination of there.

All of these TMJ remedies can have a direct impact on tinnitus, though, giving you relief from annoying ringing in your years.

Is Your Tinnitus Caused by TMJ? Talk to Your Dentist to Find out More

The only way to know for sure whether you have tinnitus caused by TMJ is to see your dentist. When patients come into my practice for their initial consultation and I determine that they have this disorder, I can offer them an effective treatment for tinnitus.

Thankfully, you have options. You don’t have to bear annoying tinnitus if it’s caused by TMJ disorder. My team can provide you with a safe, effective, natural treatment for tinnitus that will help you once and for all!

Do you think your tinnitus might be caused by TMJ disorder? Do you suffer from jaw pain and headaches? Contact us today to learn more about your treatment options.