Did Invisalign Cause My Tinnitus? I'm Losing Hope

[Ciara1987]

Hi everyone,

I have been a stalker on Tinnitus Talk for the past few months hoping I would never have to create an account and make this real. At some point at the end of November I developed ringing in my left ear, like a blast of wind that needed to escape. I went to the E.R twice, 2 ENTs, neurologist, physical therapy, acupuncture. I have been doing it all...

I had Invisalign for the past 2 years. I found myself constantly clenching my jaw and sucking on the braces. The dentist and orthodontist seem to think that is what caused my issue. My neck and jaw muscles being too tight causing my ear to ring. I got a nightguard, am in physical therapy but I don't think anything is helping me. The month of January I was suicidal, unsure of how to deal with this. For the past few weeks I have also been noticing a baseline mmmmmmmm sound in my right ear as well.

A few days ago I thought I had really turned a corner. I had almost a full day of silence. In the garage ears plugged I had silence, next day slight ringing in the later morning but silence when I woke up. The next day was the same but the past 3 days I am right back to square one. I fear this will only get worse. I feel if this has been going on for MONTHS it will not get better.

Also - When I burp in my mouth, my right ear THUMPS 4 times. I am TERRIFIED this will become another issue. That it will continue thumping and not stop.

I appreciate any feedback. I'm a mess :-(

 

[Adaś]

I had almost a full day of silence.

Hi Ciara,

Many here will tell you that global lows is what matters. If you had almost full day of silence, you have very high chance to recover. This is great. There will be another day like that one, and another. Keep this thought. I know it is hard but stay calm, but try to find some way to relax, or keep yourself busy - distracted from your tinnitus. Don't let anxiety take control.

 

[linearb]

@Ciara1987, don't be scared.

I know too much about all this, and don't want to overwhelm you, so I am going to try to be very brief. I am also going to provide some links at the end, to provide a basis for what I am saying, and in case you're interested in digging into the science.

Tinnitus, generally, is a condition that arises when some amount of hearing loss happens, and a part of the brain called the DCN compensates by connecting nerves from other parts of the neck & jaw into the auditory nerve. [1]

Whether TMJ and dental problems can, on their own, cause tinnitus is disputed. However, it's beyond dispute that TMJ problems (clenching grinding, anything that creates jaw pressure) will make tinnitus worse [2] and that adequately and correctly treating TMJ problems can reduce the severity of tinnitus in some cases. [3]

If I were you, I would try to consciously let go of the noise as much as possible. It's there, it's going to change and be weird and annoying and do things. Avoid loud noises and ototoxic drugs, but, other than that -- you know you have a jaw problem, focus on treating that, and see how your tinnitus responds.

I have a TMJ guard I sleep with. If I use it every night, my tinnitus is generally reduced. If I neglect to use it for a couple weeks, my tinnitus can turn into a shrill deafening monster again, and it can take a couple weeks of correct use of my guard for it to reduce back to "normal".


--- References:
[1]


[2]
Impact of Temporomandibular Joint Complaints on Tinnitus-Related Distress

[3]
Improving tinnitus with mechanical treatment of the cervical spine and jaw

 

[Ciara1987]

Thank you for the help and advice. I was doing SO GOOD a few days ago. Moments and almost a DAY of silence and then BOOM right back to square one. Mine would be considered a 3/10 but in my head it may as well be 100000/10. I know the anxiety is taking a hold of me, making this beast so much worse. My biggest fear is I will wake up with blasting in my ears and that will be the way it stays for the rest of my life. I think that is the root of my anxiety.

 

[Ciara1987]

I got tinnitus back at the tail end of November. I can mostly only hear it in a quiet room or un-started car. It's not from noise exposure. Possibly caused by tight SCM muscle from Invisalign.

Any idea if this could go away?

I only ask because so many people say it's a good sign you can only hear in the quiet room but it's driving me absolutely bonkers. It gets louder when I sleep.

 

[ajc]

Any idea if this could go away?

Nobody can see into future. It may or may not go away.

I only ask because so many people say it's a good sign you can only hear in the quiet room

Duh. Obviously it's a good sign if you can most of the time only hear it in a quiet room.

Some of us have tinnitus so loud that we hear it over a plane's jet engine.

Count your blessings and stop worrying.

 

[Ciara1987]

I was really on the up and up. Sleeping, had moments of silence. I was POSITIVE my tinnitus would go away soon. I had a great month. I didn't really even think about it!

This last week, It's loud again, constantly ringing. Is this a normal part of healing, or am I falling backwards?

Please someone give me some input- this is just awful :-(

Tinnitus since 11/2020. In the left ear. Due to upper cervical, anxiety and TMJ.

 

[MrCrybaby]

I was really on the up and up. Sleeping, had moments of silence. I was POSITIVE my tinnitus would go away soon. I had a great month. I didn't really even think about it!

This last week, It's loud again, constantly ringing. Is this a normal part of healing, or am I falling backwards?

Please someone give me some input- this is just awful :-(

Tinnitus since 11/2020. In the left ear. Due to upper cervical, anxiety and TMJ.

If your issue is TMJD you need to actually treat your joint problem to improve your symptoms. TMJ issues can often be managed successfully with simple daily stretches. Your orthodontist should be able to refer you for this sort of care. Good luck!

 

[Simon85]

This last week, It's loud again, constantly ringing. Is this a normal part of healing, or am I falling backwards?

You will have ups and downs on the way to getting better. Sometimes quieter and full throttle at others - it's normal and recovery is certainly not a linear progression. I'd expect it to be a lot quieter in the long term. As the previous poster mentioned it'd be worthwhile seeking TMJ treatment if you can.

 

[Ciara1987]

Yes, I am seeing a physical therapist and and upper cervical. My C2 was out. It's quieter today.

 

[Taafi]

Do you still have your wisdom teeth?

I have had the exact same experience as yours with Invisalign and my stupid orthodontist insisted on keeping my wisdom teeth at the start because they were fully erupted and cavity free. I had a chain of issues including tinnitus since I finished invisalign and a lot of it was because of wisdom teeth which I have now taken out.

Regardless of wisdom teeth, if your bite is still slightly off, meaning when you close your bite your teeth don't all meet at the same time, that will put pressure on your face muscles which will pressure your jaw joint further which will worsen your T.

 

[Dia]

I have this tinnitus since October 2019. I wear an Invisalign and do not know of that this issue. Can someone help?

 

[maria scott]

Omg i have just started my aligner journey, on 2nd week and i have ringinh in my head - i suspect the aligners but litterally do not know what to do accept cry

 

[Juan]

Hi everyone,

I have been a stalker on Tinnitus Talk for the past few months hoping I would never have to create an account and make this real. At some point at the end of November I developed ringing in my left ear, like a blast of wind that needed to escape. I went to the E.R twice, 2 ENTs, neurologist, physical therapy, acupuncture. I have been doing it all...

I had Invisalign for the past 2 years. I found myself constantly clenching my jaw and sucking on the braces. The dentist and orthodontist seem to think that is what caused my issue. My neck and jaw muscles being too tight causing my ear to ring. I got a nightguard, am in physical therapy but I don't think anything is helping me. The month of January I was suicidal, unsure of how to deal with this. For the past few weeks I have also been noticing a baseline mmmmmmmm sound in my right ear as well.

A few days ago I thought I had really turned a corner. I had almost a full day of silence. In the garage ears plugged I had silence, next day slight ringing in the later morning but silence when I woke up. The next day was the same but the past 3 days I am right back to square one. I fear this will only get worse. I feel if this has been going on for MONTHS it will not get better.

Also - When I burp in my mouth, my right ear THUMPS 4 times. I am TERRIFIED this will become another issue. That it will continue thumping and not stop.

I appreciate any feedback. I'm a mess :-(

Hi Ciara, how are you doing?

I wanted to ask you about the Invisalign treatment, as I am halfway through it. Was your bite aligned after the treatment? Did the teeth close correctly after Invisalign?

How was your experienced when attachments were removed? Did it feel very noisy?

My first set of attachments were removed and it was quite noisy, and now I have to go for another set of attachments and I guess more noise at the end...

I hope your tinnitus is better by now.

 

[LukeYoung]

Hi @Ciara1987,

Tinnitus is a real beast, but I want to help you make sense of it. It is a very complex condition. Most people can attribute it to something like a night out, a loud concert, or years of working in noisy environments. However, there are other potential causes to consider:

• Medication: Are you taking any medications regularly?
• Ear infections: Have you had any recently, or did you have frequent infections as a child?
• Physical damage: Have you experienced any concussions or head injuries?
• Meniere's disease: Does anyone in your family have it?

These are some of the most common causes. Sometimes, identifying the cause can lead to a solution. Other times, it may not be fixable, such as when it is due to hearing damage. But the earlier you accept the condition, the better. If it does improve over time, this mindset will help. If it does not, acceptance will still support your path to habituation. Most of the potential causes leave room for improvement.

Keeping anxiety under control is a challenge, especially if you struggled with it before tinnitus. Anxiety can amplify your distress and make the condition feel worse. Acceptance is the first step. This could have happened through no fault of your own—it has happened to many of us. Some of us are just genetically predisposed. Even if there is a reason, it does not change the outcome.

Tips for Coping
During the early stages, anxiety will likely be very high. If the condition lasts, it is tough to hear, but making peace with the sound really helps. Remind yourself: It will not hurt me; it is just annoying.

• Stay busy: Gradually return to your hobbies, especially quiet ones, and give your ears time to recover. Distraction is key.
• Use sound therapy: If you are often in quiet environments, try relaxing background sounds like rain, storms, fans, ocean waves, water streams, crackling fires, or even crickets and cicadas. These can help mask the tinnitus and make it less noticeable.
• Focus on sleep: Sleep is essential. Lack of sleep can put your central nervous system on edge, worsening your symptoms. If you have trouble sleeping, try melatonin (2 mg). If it does not help, consult your doctor about other options. Be cautious with medications, as some can be ototoxic with high doses or long term use. Personally, I have only used melatonin for sleep, though I also take Endep (amitriptyline) 20 mg daily, which has been helpful.

Once you have managed your anxiety and sleep, ease yourself back into sound. Do not overdo it. If you have an Apple Watch, consider setting up the noise monitoring feature. Generally, staying under 80 dB for 5 hours a day is considered safe. Keeping sound levels at 70 dB or lower all day should not risk further hearing damage.

I suspect something may have happened recently that caught up with you.

Hang in There
Many of us felt suicidal in the beginning, but most people leave these forums after a few years as they improve. I did the same but occasionally return to check in and support newcomers. There is hope.

My Experience
I suffer from TMJ issues, which can cause a variety of ear related symptoms. These include increased tinnitus, different types of tinnitus (like eardrum spasms or thumping), ear pain, and a feeling of fullness. When the area in front of my ear near the TMJ joint is inflamed, these symptoms worsen.

It is not uncommon for dental treatments to cause ear issues since the two are closely linked. However, I suspect you would have noticed symptoms earlier if your tinnitus was caused by shifting teeth. Two years seems like a long time for such symptoms to appear.

This is a very late response, and it seems you may have left the forums. If so, I hope you are doing well.