Was there a time when you thought your TMJ ear pain was just a simple ear infection? Everything seemed fine, and you did not see it as something worth an ounce of worry. So, you ignored it, and you continued to live your life.

However, things quickly spiraled down as your ear pain progressed. You noticed that the pain began to radiate to your jaw. In the end, it became severe that simple acts of chewing and talking required too much effort. 

You don’t have to retake this path. We encourage you to read this blog until the end. After reading this article, you will learn some effective coping strategies for your pain and one natural solution to get to the root of your agony.

Primary Signs of TMJ Ear Pain

TMJ ear pain sucks. Aside from the throbbing pain, you may also feel the most bizarre symptoms. Sometimes, people think that you’re crazy for hearing random hissing sounds. Unfortunately, they don’t get it, and your situation stresses you more. As your frustration and anxiety heighten, the symptoms get worse. Even talking or laughing becomes another heavy bag you need to carry. 

Summary of TMJ Ear Pain symptoms

• Dull or sharp pain in the ear
• The pain worsens every time you move your jaw
• Ringing in the ear or tinnitus
• Headache

How TMJ Problem Causes Ear Pain

During a consultation, one patient said, “I thought it was just a simple ear infection. So why is it affecting my jaw?”

TMJ or the temporomandibular joint is located just in front of the ears. This joint has a vital role in our body since it’s the one that connects our jawbone to our skull. TMJ disorder can damage the ear canal and causes inflammation. As a result, earache and jaw pain occur.

Can Neck Misalignment Cause TMJ Ear Pain?

Trauma such as whiplash can cause a misalignment in the top two bones of the spine. This delicate part in your upper neck allows your head to move in many ways. However, these bones are not entirely designed for stability.

As a result, an upper cervical misalignment can cause irritation and pressure buildup in the jaw’s muscles and joints. These problems also affect the nerves around the TMJ, causing them to receive wrong messages from the brain. 

When you do nothing to address this error, pressure can spread in the areas of your head, including your ear. As a result, you may experience TMJ ear pain.

4 Keys to TMJ Ear Pain Relief

So, what’s the best way to give yourself the relief and comfort you need? We suggest that you take a holistic lifestyle approach. You do not need thousands of bucks to take care of yourself—that’s the beauty of self-care. 

#1. Stress Reduction and Management 

You’re human, and it’s normal to feel stressed. As we age, we relentlessly chase dreams and opportunities that we forget the value of rest. It became part of our culture to have that “always-on-the-go” personality. While you unhealthily feed your mind with feelings of success, your body can become more susceptible to pain. And your TMJ ear pain could stem from stress. Below are some practical ways to manage stress healthily. 

• Organize your life – organizing your life can help in preventing stress buildup. Start by sitting down and thinking about the tasks that you need to get done. Then, plan out every step to have a clearer view of your day. Make sure to be realistic when planning and always schedule a time for relaxation.
• Treat yourself with a break – no matter how busy you get, always designate a time to chill out. Spending just a few minutes off from work may help in relaxing your mind. You can step outside for a short walk and breathe the relaxing air of nature.

#2. Soft Diet 

Have you ever had TMJ ear pain flare-up after you chew gums and tough meats? These kinds of hard foods can trigger and intensify the burden that TMJ brings. Here are some of the worst foods that you should avoid to prevent a flare-up:

• Crusty bread
• Hard nuts
• Chewy foods such as gummies
• Hard fruits and vegetables 

#3. Conscious Eating

We recommend you try these diets to avoid painful TMJ ear pain.

• Soft food diet – put down that piece of steak! When you have a terrible episode of TMJ ear pain, you may wish to go for delicate foods. This type of diet can help in relaxing your jaw while chewing. Here is a list of delicious and nutritional soft foods:

1. Fruit and veggie smoothies
2. Avocado
3. Mashed potato
4. Hot cereals 
5. Soft-cooked pasta
6. Ripe bananas
7. Yogurt
8. Peeled veggies

• Anti-inflammatory food diet –TMJ ear pain could flare up after eating inflammatory-rich foods. They include sugar, fried foods, and foods rich in refined carbohydrates. You can still eat them but in a moderate amount. So, what should you have in your anti-inflammatory food diet? Refer to the list below. 

1. Broccoli
2. Avocados
3. Grapes
4. Mushroom
5. Turmeric
6. Tomatoes
7. Berries

#4. Jaw Exercises

Exercising can help in relieving TMJ ear pain. When the pressure in your temporomandibular joint is released, ear pain may also subside. Here are easy jaw exercises that you can incorporate into your daily routine.

• Chin tucking – stretch your shoulder back and pull your chin down. This is the position that you do when you create that double-chin effect. Then, hold down your chin for three seconds. You can repeat this exercise 10 times.
• Move your jaw side to side – put a chopstick or a pen in between your front teeth. Once the object is in place, you can begin moving your jaw slowly from left to right. 
• Simple jaw exercise – this is a simple jaw exercise that you can do anywhere! All you have to do is rest your tongue on the roof of your mouth. Then, separate your upper and lower teeth apart and try to relax your jaw muscles.

Get TMJ Ear Pain Relief Naturally

Everything you need to relieve your TMJ ear pain is in the hands of upper cervical chiropractors. They know best about a natural and successful method that gets to the root of your suffering. They help by correcting the errors and dysfunction in your upper cervical spine that are causing your TMJ ear pain. 

With upper cervical chiropractic care, you can take the pain entirely out of the equation. See a local upper cervical chiropractor to learn more about how this natural relief can restore your optimal health.

to schedule a consultation today.