Although your ears and teeth are two unique body parts with very different functions, it can be easy to overlook how physically close they are to one another. It’s understandable that most people would not associate hearing loss with their teeth, but the two are both physically and functionally connected. If you’ve been experiencing hearing loss, it could be due to bruxism, which is when you inadvertently grind your teeth when sleeping.

How Does Teeth Grinding Cause Hearing Loss?

Grinding or clenching your teeth can lead to problems with your jaw joints. Grinding your teeth like this will put stress on the muscles and eventually make them inflamed, which can also affect the ears.

You may also notice some of the below issues:

• A clicking or popping noise whenever you talk or chew
• Pain when opening the mouth
• Unexplained damage to your teeth
• Increased tooth sensitivity
• Headaches on the side of your head
• Earaches
• Tinnitus, which is a ringing or buzzing noise inside your ears
• Hearing loss in one or both of your ears that may have been caused by the inner ear muscles experiencing muscular spasms

Why Do People Start Grinding Their Teeth?

People usually grind their teeth at night when they’re asleep. Naturally, you wouldn’t realise what you’re doing in your sleep, which makes this issue more frustrating to deal with. Often the earliest sign that you’re doing this is if you feel any pain or stiffness in your jaw when you wake up in the morning.

People dealing with stress or who regularly smoke or drink alcohol are very likely to start grinding their teeth while sleeping. This is a very common condition that is known as temporomandibular syndrome (TMJ), with one in five people going through this problem at some point in their life.

How Can This Problem Be Resolved?

Fortunately, this is an issue that often stops on its own. Our dentist will determine what is making you grind your teeth and might recommend some relaxation techniques and lifestyle changes to decrease the likelihood of you grinding your teeth.

Alternatively, wearing a mouthguard at night as you sleep will reduce the impact of the grinding and prevent your teeth from getting damaged. We can also prescribe muscle relaxants that will relax your jaw muscles.

Relieve Your Pain & Restore Your Hearing Today

If you’re desperate to relieve the pain you constantly feel due to teeth grinding, book an appointment at East Bentleigh Dental Group today by calling (03) 9575 1100.