EAR PAIN/ TINNITUS

Ear pain, muffled hearing, and tinnitus (ringing in the ears) can often be related to temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD). The close anatomical relationship between the TMJ and the structures of the ear means that dysfunction in the jaw joint can lead to ear-related symptoms. In TMD, inflammation or misalignment of the joint can exert pressure on the nearby ear structures, resulting in ear pain, a feeling of fullness or muffled hearing, and sometimes tinnitus. These symptoms are often misdiagnosed as ear infections or inner ear issues, but addressing the underlying TMD can alleviate the associated ear problems.