What Is TMJ/TMD?

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is the hinge that connects your lower jaw to your skull, just
in front of each ear. Problems with this joint and the surrounding muscles are often called
TMD (temporomandibular disorders).

Common TMJ/TMD symptoms include:

• Jaw pain, tightness, or fatigue
• Clicking, popping, or grinding sounds when opening or closing the mouth
• Difficulty opening the mouth wide or jaw “locking”
• Headaches (often around the temples)
• Pain around or in front of the ears

Because the TMJ sits so close to the ear, it’s not surprising that jaw problems can sometimes affect ear
sensations— including ringing, fullness, and pressure.

For the bigger picture of tinnitus in general, visit
What Is Tinnitus? and
Tinnitus Causes & Triggers.

How the Jaw & Ear Are Connected

The relationship between TMJ and tinnitus is complex, but several factors may help explain it:

• Shared anatomy: The TMJ is located right next to the ear canal and middle ear. Muscles,
  ligaments, and nerves in the area interact closely.
• Nerve pathways: Sensory nerves from the jaw and neck feed into some of the same centers in the
  brain that process sound. When TMJ structures are irritated, these signals may influence how tinnitus is
  perceived.
• Muscle tension: Tight jaw and neck muscles can change pressure around the ear and alter how you
  perceive sounds, including your own tinnitus.
• Stress and clenching: Many people clench their jaw or grind their teeth when stressed. This can
  aggravate TMJ pain and increase tinnitus intensity at the same time.

It’s also possible for someone to have both TMJ issues and other tinnitus contributors, such as
hearing loss or medications. Our job is to help sort out which factors might be at play in your case.

To learn more about other contributors, see
Tinnitus and Hearing Loss,
Medications That Cause Tinnitus, and
Meniere’s Disease and Tinnitus.

Signs Your Tinnitus May Be TMJ-Related

While only a full evaluation can confirm whether TMJ is influencing your tinnitus, these patterns often raise our
suspicion:

People with TMJ-related tinnitus often fall into the category of
Tinnitus in One Ear vs Both Ears, but not always. It’s also important to make
sure other conditions—such as earwax buildup or
pulsatile tinnitus—are not being overlooked.

When Tinnitus Is Likely Not Just TMJ

Even if you have jaw symptoms, tinnitus is not always primarily TMJ-related. Red flags that suggest a broader
workup is essential include:

• Sudden tinnitus with rapid hearing loss in one ear
• Tinnitus that sounds like a heartbeat or whooshing in time with your pulse
• Severe vertigo or balance changes, especially with nausea or vomiting
• Neurological symptoms, such as facial weakness or numbness
• Persistent ear pain, drainage, or a sense of blockage that doesn’t improve

These symptoms can overlap with conditions like sudden hearing loss, Meniere’s disease, or vascular tinnitus and
may require urgent medical attention. For more guidance, see:

• When to See a Doctor About Tinnitus
• Sudden Tinnitus: Should I Go to the ER?
• What Is Pulsatile Tinnitus?

Who to See & How TMJ-Related Tinnitus Is Evaluated

In the Bay Area, patients with suspected TMJ-related tinnitus are often cared for by a team that may include:

• Audiologist: Evaluates hearing, tinnitus, and ear health
• Dentist or TMJ specialist: Assesses the jaw joint, bite, and muscle tension
• Primary care or ENT: Rules out other ear and medical conditions
• Physical therapist or chiropractor (when appropriate): Addresses neck and posture issues

For a general overview of what an appointment looks like, visit
What to Expect at Your Tinnitus Appointment.

Treatment Approaches & Tinnitus Management

TMJ-focused treatment is typically guided by a dentist, oral surgeon, or TMJ specialist. Common components may
include:

• Night guards or bite splints for clenching and grinding
• Jaw exercises, stretching, and physical therapy
• Posture and ergonomics coaching
• Short-term medication for pain or muscle tension (when appropriate)
• Stress management strategies

On the audiology side, we focus on helping you manage tinnitus and any hearing changes while TMJ care is underway:

• Hearing support: If hearing loss is present, we may discuss
  Hearing Aids for Tinnitus to improve clarity and soften tinnitus.
• Sound therapy: Gentle background sound, sound machines, and
  Tinnitus Relief Apps to make ear noise less intrusive
  (see Sound Therapy for Tinnitus).
• Counseling and coping tools:
  Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) approaches and
  tinnitus anxiety management to reduce fear and frustration.
• Habituation: Supporting the brain’s ability to move tinnitus into the background over time.
  Learn more at Understanding Tinnitus Habituation.
• Night and sleep strategies: Especially if clenching is worse at night; see
  Managing Tinnitus at Night and
  
  Best Relaxation Techniques for Tinnitus Relief
  .

For a broader overview of choices, visit
Comprehensive Tinnitus Treatment Options and
Tinnitus Patient Success Stories.

Jaw & Tinnitus Self-Care Tips

While self-care is not a replacement for professional evaluation, many patients find these steps helpful:

• Jaw awareness: Check in throughout the day—are your teeth touching? Gently allow your jaw to
  relax so your teeth are slightly apart and your tongue rests lightly on the roof of your mouth.
• Gentle stretching: TMJ-friendly stretches and posture exercises recommended by a clinician can
  ease muscular tension that may aggravate tinnitus.
• Stress reduction: Since stress fuels both clenching and tinnitus distress, incorporate simple
  relaxation practices. Try ideas from
  
  Best Relaxation Techniques for Tinnitus Relief
  .
• Hearing protection in loud settings:
  Concerts, sporting events, or loud workplaces can further sensitize your ears. Learn more at
  
  Simple Steps to Protect and Preserve Your Hearing
  .
• Gentle lifestyle tuning:
  Notice how caffeine and alcohol affect your tinnitus and jaw tension using guidance from
  
  Does Caffeine Affect Tinnitus?
  and
  Could Drinking Alcohol Affect Your Hearing?.

You can find additional ideas in
Lifestyle & Diet Tips for Tinnitus and
Tinnitus Relief Exercises.

TMJ & Tinnitus in Bay Area Patients

In the San Francisco Bay Area, we often see TMJ-related tinnitus in people who:

• Spend long hours at a computer with forward head posture
• Work in high-stress roles in tech, healthcare, education, or finance
• Commute in traffic and clench their jaw without realizing it
• Have a history of orthodontic treatment, dental work, or teeth grinding

Our clinics in San Mateo and
San Carlos also care for patients from
Palo Alto,
Atherton,
Los Altos, San Francisco, the East Bay, and South Bay communities who
are navigating TMJ, tinnitus, and hearing concerns together.

For more local tinnitus resources, explore:

• Peninsula Tinnitus Treatment
• San Francisco Tinnitus Treatment
• East Bay – Oakland & Berkeley
• South Bay & San Jose Tinnitus Treatment
• Bay Area Tinnitus Support Groups

Next Steps with California Hearing Center

If you suspect your jaw and tinnitus might be linked, we can help you:

• Clarify how much hearing loss or ear involvement is present
• Document how tinnitus behaves and how severe it feels
• Coordinate with TMJ-focused providers in the Bay Area
• Build a tinnitus management plan you can use day-to-day

Before your visit, you might find it helpful to read:

• What to Expect at Your Tinnitus Appointment
• Tinnitus Severity Assessment
• Comprehensive Tinnitus Treatment Options
• Coping with Tinnitus Anxiety
• 
  Can Hearing Aids Help with Tinnitus? – Insights for Palo Alto Residents