The problem of Tinnitus, which creates a momentary or persistent tone in the ear that sounds like a whistling, a boom, or a musical pitch, affects about 50 million people in America. Because many people do not recognize their Tinnitus as an issue, the number of people who suffer from it is likely to be significantly greater.
Even though Tinnitus may be addressed with modern technology and treatment options, the condition is sometimes overlooked for years until the persistent ringing becomes debilitating. Early treatment of Tinnitus and prevention of its worsening, as with all ear and hearing concerns, is the most effective strategy to combat the condition and keep it from deteriorating.
What is Tinnitus
Tinnitus is defined as a “ringing in the ears.” It is not a disease in and of itself, but it might be a symptom of much more severe disease. The American Tinnitus Association (ATA) estimates that almost 50 million Americans suffer from this ailment. Tinnitus can be debilitating in some situations, making it one of America’s most frequent health problems.
According to the American Tinnitus Association, Tinnitus is “the sense of sound when no actual external noise is present.” It can sound like “buzzing, hissing, whistling, swooshing, and clicking,” and it can sound like music in scarce situations.
Tinnitus is bothersome since the patient only hears loud sounds because they suffer from phantom noise. The condition may come and go or be there all of the time. It can even impair your quality of life in such instances since it interferes with your capacity to hear actual sound or concentrate.
How Can My Teeth Be The Cause Of Tinnitus?
While many causes might cause Tinnitus, one area that doctors frequently miss is jaw difficulties. The Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) is placed in front of your ears, where your jaw bone (mandible) attaches to your skull’s temporal bone. It shares specific muscles and nerves with the middle ear and is anatomically near to the ear. A ligament connects the malleus, a middle ear bone, and is connected to the jaw by a ligament ”furthermore, specific nerves service both the jaw and the eardrum.
There is also evidence that a nerve supplied by the TMJ connects to a portion of the brain linked with hearing. Abnormalities can cause Tinnitus with the TMJ’s muscles, cartilage, and ligaments.
Over time, the stress placed on the joint can cause tinnitus symptoms, which may or may not be accompanied by hearing loss. Those who have arthritis or a recent jaw injury and those who have a history of grinding or clenching their teeth while sleeping are more likely to develop a TMJ issue. A Cleveland Clinic study of 109 patients with Tinnitus discovered that TMJ disorders were connected with 36%.
How can I know whether my TMJ causes my Tinnitus?
- Does your Tinnitus vary when you eat, yawn, or cough?
- Does your Tinnitus change when you move your jaw forward or clench your teeth?
- When you move your neck, does your Tinnitus change?
If you responded yes, the Tinnitus was most likely caused by a nerve problem rather than a sensory problem.
Tinnitus and the Health of Your Teeth
We talked about how your mouth is the entryway to your body in a recent blog. We’ve discussed how your dental health can affect your general health and how your mouth can indicate significant health issues in the long run. Let us look at one of them.
Causes
You’re probably wondering what Tinnitus has to do with your teeth. Before we get to that, let’s look at what often causes Tinnitus. The condition is brought on by four key reasons, which are as follows:
- Tinnitus might be caused by the hardening of your middle ear bones. This is more common in families.
- Age-related hearing loss — With many other age-related conditions, older people’s hearing tends to deteriorate as they reach the age of 60 and beyond. Tinnitus can also be caused by hearing loss.
- Earwax blockage – It is surprising how many Americans do not follow the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery rules, particularly when it comes to earwax cleaning. For example, did you know that cotton swabs are not permitted? This is a particular problem in and of itself, but you should be aware that if you do not clean your ears and earwax collects, it can cause eardrum inflammation and hearing loss. As a result, the excessive wax buildup is one of the major causes of temporary hearing loss.
- Exposure to loud noise – Finally, one of the most common causes of tinnitus is exposure to loud noise. This can include the frequent usage of portable music devices or the loud noise produced by firearms or heavy machinery. Tinnitus can be triggered by even brief exposure to these loud noises.
Consider all of the things you are exposed to when you go to the dentist. Can you guess what the leading cause of Tinnitus is?
Should you ignore the dentist?
Some people are questioning if they should avoid visiting the dentist because exposure to these high-frequency materials can cause hearing loss. The short answer is no because there have been many occasions when visiting the dentist has helped people with Tinnitus. This is a topic for another blog; however, some disorders (such as impacted wisdom teeth, temporomandibular joint dysfunction, and dental abscesses) can produce Tinnitus. Similarly, some operations can ease patients’ symptoms of hearing loss.