The thumping started in the middle of the night. Donja Stempfle could hear it very clearly. But when she turned over and lay on her right ear, it stopped—for the time being. In the days that followed, however, the thumping returned, even during the day. It was a major burden for the 50-year-old. Over time, the thumping turned into a higher-pitched sound. Donja Stempfle was one of the three million people in Germany who suffer from tinnitus. Determined not to let the tinnitus get the better of her, she came across a specialist while searching online. He realized that something was wrong with her chewing muscles and advised her to see a dentist.

Many people are unaware that there may be a connection between teeth grinding and tinnitus. In general, any form of stress can trigger these bothersome noises in the ears—sometimes even indirectly. This is because people who tend to grind their teeth when stressed also tense their chewing muscles significantly. This places excessive strain on the temporomandibular joint and causes it to bear an improper load. This results in persistent tension in the chewing muscles. The intense pressure exerts a strain on the hair cells in the inner ear similar to that caused by loud noise, leading to unpleasant whistling sounds. However, it’s not just teeth grinding—a variety of other dental problems can also cause tinnitus. That’s why, in addition to seeing an ENT specialist, it’s also advisable to consult a dentist.

To allow the chewing muscles to relax again, treatment for this condition begins with a dental splint. This prevents aggressive teeth grinding at night. For most people affected, this dental splint or bite guard is enough to permanently relieve jaw tension. In a next step, dental bonding can further help restore balance to the jaw and alleviate the tension.

Dental problems are just one of many factors that can cause tinnitus. Unfortunately, in many cases, tinnitus cannot be completely eliminated. Some treatment approaches—especially for chronic tinnitus—therefore focus on finding peace of mind despite the symptoms and reducing the stress they cause.

Here you can learn about the different types of tinnitus and how to recognize them, as well as information on the causes, consequences, and treatment options.