Clicking Jaw (Maybe TMJ?) a Cause of My Tinnitus?

[lou1972]

I noticed a slight hearing loss in my left ear about a year ago, then the tinnitus started about 4 months ago. I noticed the high pitch sound earlier though but it was ever so slight and I dismissed it at the time. I honestly thought something was up with my TV! Anyway, now I have it pretty bad but I'm slowly coping with it. I finally went to the audiologist and they confirmed a loss of hearing in the high frequencies in that ear. Right ear is perfect hearing. I've yet to have a MRI (I'm broke) to rule out an AN.

Thing is my teeth have always been pretty bad. I've got a bad overbite and I used to grind a lot. I remember a dentist telling me years ago that if I didn't do anything I'd likely get TMJ. However I've never had pain in my jaw, headaches etc. but what I do have is a loud click every time I open and close my mouth and it's only on the left and I can feel and hear it in my left ear.

What are the chances this is the cause of my tinnitus? My health insurance sucks so every visit I make costs me hundreds of dollars and I feel like I always have to get two or three opinions and never get a decent answer. It really feels like throwing money down the drain at times. It's very frustrating.

Thanks.

 

[Yas]

That's interesting actually, they do say dental work can cause tinnitus.

I also have a clicking jaw on my left side (same side as tinnitus) because I've been eating on my right side for the past year due to a filling gone wrong! (Also can't afford to fix it yet). but I'm pretty certain my cause is because of a perforation.

Unless you have another reason you have tinnitus, it might be worth researching!

 

[lou1972]

That's funny you mention the side you eat on. I actually only eat on my left because of the same reason. But it's weird that it's reversed for you. I've often thought the clicking on my left is because I chew more on that side.

 

[Candy]

My jaw clicks on the right which is where I have most TMJ problems, however chewing on the opposite side makes it worse for some reason. The tinnitus is on my bad jaw side...

Yas things do get better, I've had a few spikes this year but after the first 18 months I was ok and grateful to be on the planet. Also can you get yourself an NHS dentist to get your tooth fixed?

 

[Yas]

That's funny you mention the side you eat on. I actually only eat on my left because of the same reason. But it's weird that it's reversed for you. I've often thought the clicking on my left is because I chew more on that side.

thats weird, my clicking is on the opposite side to the side I chew on haha.

Is there anything you can do through the NHS? Keep me updated if you find out anything