When the temporomandibular joint (jaw joint) is out of alignment, this is called TMJ disorder. When you have TMJ disorder, you may notice one or many of its common symptoms, like popping sounds coming from your jaw when you chew or talk. You may also notice pain or discomfort in the jaw when you wake up in the morning. Other aches and pains you might experience include sore teeth or even soreness in your face muscles in the morning or throughout the day. TMJ can be a cause of — or be caused by — teeth clenching during the night. The CustMbite Nightguard can help mitigate the pain caused by nighttime symptoms.
One aspect TMJ disorder can affect is your auditory health. Few people realize that TMJ disorder can actually cause or exacerbate hearing loss. This can also present itself as tinnitus, a persistent feeling of clogged ears, vertigo, or painful earaches. Often, people struggle for months or even years before a specialist discovers the true cause.
This delay is caused because these types of symptoms are usually treated by an ENT (ear, nose, and throat) specialist. With TMJ, all the parts of the ear will usually appear to be perfectly healthy. A doctor without TMJ experience may diagnose the cause as anything from allergies to Meniere’s disease. They may even prescribe hearing aids, which likely won’t do any good for those who suffer from TMJ.
You could live for years without any explanation of your hearing loss or other ear issues without realizing it’s related to TMJ disorder. Read on to learn more about the different types of hearing loss that can occur with TMJ disorder and how using the CustMbite Nightguard can help you avoid more serious consequences.