Earaches are not only known to affect children, but adults as well. Ear pain can occur in one ear or both at the same time. The pain can be dull and constant or sharp and painful. Earaches can also be accompanied by a fever, infection and possible hearing loss.

Broken Bones, There are 3 small inner ear bones linked to transfer vibrations that help make sound. Breaking 1 of these bones disrupts the sequence and transfer of sound causing not only pain or deafness.

1. Ear Barotrauma, Ear barotrauma is ear pain caused by pressure changes.
2. Eardrum Rupture (perforated eardrum)
3. Ear Infection
4. Foreign Objects
5. Mastoiditis, When an infection develops in the middle ear the infection
6. Otitis Externa (swimmer’s ear)
7. Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ)

The temporomandibular joint connects your skull to the lower jaw, known as the mandible. There are 2 of these “TMJ” joints, one on each side of the skull in front of your ears. This joint allows your jaw to move enabling you to eat, drink and speak.

TMJ disorders can create severe ear aches, tinnitus, vertigo, and even hearing loss if it begins to affect the nerves in the ear.

If the pain you are experiencing worsens when you try to speak, swallow or eat there are therapies today that you can try. You have most likely tried to relieve your muscle pain with the aid of moist heat along with analgesics or anti-inflammatories. Your dentist has other methods such as ultrasound, and electric stimulation to relax the muscles.

Helping correct a bite misalignment and limit the strain caused by the grinding and clenching of your teeth, a precision made dental orthotic can be made by your dentist. Along with special relaxation techniques, your TMJ pain and earaches may improve.

Don’t continue to suffer from TMJ and its effects. If you have any questions about TMJ and ear aches consult us for more information