Interesting this jaw/TMJ topic has popped back up again...
Some of you may remember a posted a couple weeks ago, about having what felt like an interior ear ache
and soreness in my right ear. It was progressively growing worse. I was thinking I might have an infection, or perhaps problems with my eustachian tubes...
https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/sore-ears-equal-eustachian-tube-trouble.2219/
So on Friday, the barotrauma ear specialist that's become my regular ETN squeezed me in for an appointment. His diagnosis? TMJ or some kind of mild jaw issue. He said my interior ear, nose looked fine and I didn't have the discharge or other symptoms that might come with infection. He asked if I clinched or ground my teeth; I said I had no idea. Never have been told I have TMJ. But the last time I saw my dentist (early spring of this year), she said something was a little screwy with my bite. Sometimes, I can feel some of my upper and lower teeth hitting together in an unusual way when I bite. Then it goes away.
So the ENT suggested some OTC anti-inflamitories, avoiding chewy foods and gum, and a few other things, and we'll go from there. Jaw problems definitely didn't cause my tinnitus; barotrauma did. But maybe it is causing the ear pain and, who knows?, is making the T worse.
Dmhead, would be great if jaw issues indeed are the cause of your tinnitus. Maybe there are treatments that then could reduce or resolve it.