The Tinnitus-TMJ Connection

Ringing in the ears has been a medical mystery for years. Could the cure be as simple as a trip to the dentist?

- By Emily A. Kane, ND, LAC

Q I have developed an annoying ringing in my ears. I have seen a few doctors without success. The gist of the advice I’ve been given so far is, “Learn to live with it.” Is there really nothing else I can do?

Tinnitus is any sound that someone perceives when there is no outside source for the sound. The noises can be soft, loud, ringing, blowing, roaring, buzzing, hissing, humming, whistling, or even sizzling. This mystery of perceived sound, without an obvious source, has puzzled medical scientists for hundreds of years.

Tinnitus affects over 50 million Americans according to the American Tinnitus Association (ata.org). Of these, 2 million are so debilitated by the condition they cannot function at a normal level on a day-to-day basis. It is, unfortunately, a substantial cause of suicide. The association also states, “Currently there is no cure.”