FAQ

Tinnitus, the temporomandibular joint and the cervical spine

In some cases, problems in the temporomandibular joint area intensify the perception of tinnitus. The temporomandibular joint is closely connected to the cervical spine and the ear, both anatomically via nerve connections and functionally. Some tinnitus patients can even influence the loudness and/or pitch of the ringing sound by moving the lower jaw or turning the head.

A malfunction of the cervical spine (e.g. limited mobility) can be associated with disorders of the masticatory muscles. However, tinnitus can also develop or disappear as a result of jaw surgery (e.g. removal of wisdom teeth).
Therefore, the following questions must also be addressed when searching for the cause of tinnitus:

1. Is there a connection between dental treatment (e.g. the removal of wisdom teeth) and the onset of tinnitus, either directly or indirectly?
2. Have you experienced repeated facial pain and earaches originating in the jaw joint?
3. Do you grind your teeth at night (often caused by stress)?
4. Are there noticeable tensions in the jaw joint and the chewing muscles?
5. Is there a malocclusion (upper and lower jaw are not optimally aligned with each other)?
6. Has a dysfunction of the jaw joints already been detected?

If these symptoms are detected, there are various options for treating tinnitus, for example:

• Relieving the temporomandibular joint, e.g. by using a mouth guard
• Physiotherapeutic approaches (CRAFTA)
• Relaxation technique

Yes, it can – due to various influences, such as an increase in hearing loss, as a side effect of other illnesses, due to certain medications, due to dental/jaw treatments, under stress (especially in connection with the body tension that occurs then).

As soon as there is a distraction in perception, whether it be through positive situations or an activity that requires full concentration, you pursue a different thought and perception goal and no longer ‘think’ about the tinnitus.

Muscular tension in the neck, cervical spine and/or jaw muscles may play a role here. The volume can sometimes be influenced by turning the head and also by pushing the lower jaw back and forth.

The relaxation effect and general calm can play a major role here. In this (untrained!) relaxation/calm situation, attention and concentration are directed towards the tinnitus noise; as a result, you can ‘devote’ yourself to the tinnitus, which then appears to the foreground.

Yes! Repeated exposure to the same stimulus causes the strength of the reaction to decrease. Time thus works towards a habituation effect, the patient learns to have the stimulus = the tinnitus as a companion, he gets used to it and no longer perceives it primarily. However, the time frame varies greatly from person to person.