Can clenching your teeth at night affect your hearing?
He bruxisma disorder in which we unconsciously clench or grind our teeth, can cause different problems related to our hearing, whether earache, hearing loss either tinnitus. Being a disorder that affects the temporomandibular jointits impact on our Auditive System It is very direct. It is estimated that in Spain 70% of the population suffers from bruxism, although the majority is unaware of it and does not have a diagnosis in this regard. Dentists are usually the first to inform patients about this disorder.
Bruxism and ear pain
The continuous pressure that the temporomandibular joint must withstand when a person suffers from bruxism is very high. In many cases, those affected clench their teeth while they sleep, which means many hours of impact on this joint. The result is always jaw pain and also upside down. But since the temporomandibular joint is located in front of the ear, another symptom of bruxism is usually precisely the earache.
Bruxism and tinnitus
Another consequence of bruxism can be the appearance of ringing in the ear. They are the so-called somatosensory tinnitus, which are those related to previous problems of both the jaw and the neck. The tension of the chewing muscles is what causes the patient to experience tinnitus.
Bruxism and hearing loss
Bruxism can also cause temporary hearing loss, which can be chronic if this disorder is not acted upon. In many cases, constantly clenching or grinding our teeth ends up reducing our hearing ability. The reason is once again the involvement of the temporo-mandibular joint, closely linked to the auditory system. In many cases, this hearing loss due to bruxism is accompanied by tinnitus.
Bruxism treatment
Most people who suffer from bruxism end up using a discharge splint, which is a prosthesis tailored to your teeth that minimizes the pressure generated by unconsciously clenching your jaw. Furthermore, if bruxism is related to stressAs is often the case, it is also recommended to go to a psychologist and do sports and relaxing activities. In any case, it will always be a personalized treatment that must be determined by the specialist, who may even recommend craniofacial rehabilitation treatments.
