Are you bothered by a ringing, clicking, hissing, roaring, or buzzing in your ear? Do you sometimes hear these sounds when things are otherwise silent? If you hear any of these sounds, you may be suffering from tinnitus. Generally, tinnitus is more annoying than it is dangerous, but it can lead to a variety of problems, such as fatigue, difficulty concentrating, irritability, and stress.
However, tinnitus is not actually a condition: it’s a symptom of other problems. This means that treating the individual problems caused by tinnitus may make you feel better temporarily, but will probably not address the root of the problem.
Fortunately, there may be something your dentist can do to help you alleviate this problem, because tinnitus may be caused by temporomandibular disorder (TMD). No one is quite sure what causes TMD, but most dentists believe the problem is caused by clenching or grinding your teeth, or by trauma to your jaw. Aside from tinnitus, TMD can lead to a locked jaw or problems moving your jaw side to side or up and down.
If this is your problem, your dentist can offer a few solutions, such as medications that may reduce pain and swelling and relax your jaw—which can help with grinding and clenching—or antidepressants to relieve stress. They may also recommend a splint or night guard which will be custom made for your smile. These appliances are designed to stop you from grinding and clenching. Finally, your dentist may replace or restore certain teeth to balance a bite problem, which can treat TMD and subsequently stop your tinnitus.
If you are interested in learning more, please don’t hesitate to contact us today. We are excited to hear from you soon.