Tinnitus Returns After Nightmares/Night Bruxism

[dakukir1]

Hello Dear All,

I usually experience some quiet days with little to no tinnitus once or twice a week. However, I've noticed that my tinnitus always returns after I've had a nightmare the night before, and unfortunately, I have frequent nightmares. When the tinnitus comes back loudly, it typically takes 2 to 4 days to calm down, only to be triggered again by another nightmare.

Two years ago, a dentist mentioned that my back teeth show signs of grinding, indicating that I may be clenching my teeth at night.

Would it be logical to conclude that I suffer from night bruxism, which aggravates my tinnitus repeatedly and prevents it from gradually fading away?

I recently started using a standard mouthguard, but it doesn't seem to stop me from clenching my jaws at night. I believe I may need a specialized mouthguard called an anterior bite guard, which is designed to prevent grinding at the back of the mouth.

I would greatly appreciate any feedback or advice from this supportive community.

 

[RocketJSquirrel]

There is no 'one-size-fits-all' night guard; you should have one custom-fitted for your mouth.

 

[Lurius]

I have a mouthguard as well, and it was carefully crafted to fit my teeth specifically. They used a kind of paste to create the mold, which formed the base for the guard.

There are definitely one-size-fits-all night guards, but they are usually extremely cheap and low-quality, the kind you buy at the drugstore. You don't want those, trust me. Invest in a custom guard. If you actually have bruxism, you need this.

 

[Tinniger]

May I ask you a few questions?

• Is your tinnitus caused by noise?
• Is your tinnitus bilateral (in both ears)?
• Can you influence your tinnitus somatically? If so, in what way?

 

[asd12312]

@Tinniger

May I ask you a few questions?

• Is your tinnitus caused by noise?
• Is your tinnitus bilateral (in both ears)?
• Can you influence your tinnitus somatically? If so, in what way?

I have something similar and was wondering if I can chime in. My tinnitus started in early 2024 and was not caused by noise exposure. I have always been cautious about sound. I am not a fan of earbuds, headphones, or loud noises. In fact, I have never attended a show or concert without earplugs except maybe once or twice at a club over 15 years ago. Even my audiogram, taken a few weeks after the tinnitus began, came back pretty good.

My tinnitus started about a week after I woke up with jaw soreness for the first time in my life. I have had minor TMJ issues before, but nothing major. The clenching and grinding continued for a few months but stopped once I adjusted to the tinnitus. These days, I wake up with my teeth, mouth, and jaw relaxed, and it has been this way for months. Unless I am clenching without realizing it? Regardless, my tinnitus volume has decreased significantly, and spikes have become less frequent. Spikes mostly happen at night, but they usually settle to silence or baseline during the day. Oddly enough, exercise and increased blood flow almost always bring on silence 99 percent of the time.

Here are some other unusual symptoms I have noticed:

1. Nightmares: Nightmares often cause me to wake up with loud tinnitus and a rapid heart rate.
2. Pressure Sensitivity: Pressure around my neck, especially from a massage, can make my baseline tinnitus louder. The same thing happens at the gym. If I bend a certain way and feel pressure building in my neck, I will get a tone that lasts for as long as the neck position is "kinked," usually about a second. Additionally, if my baseline tinnitus is already present, I can increase its volume by bracing my core or tightening my abs and neck. However, I have tried modulating my tinnitus by moving my jaw (jutting it forward, pulling it back, clenching, etc.), and this has no effect. Flexing my core or neck does seem to affect it, though.
3. Neck Cracking: The base of my neck (around the atlas) has been cracking frequently since the onset of tinnitus. Visits to a chiropractor have not helped.

I suspect the tinnitus triggered by nightmares might be linked to the same tension buildup I described in point two. I am not sure if the root cause is my jaw or if it is more related to structures around my neck and the base of my skull.