October is Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to focus on overall well-being and understand how stress can affect the body in unexpected ways—including the ears. Many people may not realise that stress and anxiety can influence jaw tension, leading to noticeable ear sensations, or increases in tinnitus.
The Link Between Stress, Jaw Tension, and Ears
The jaw is connected to the ear through the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), located just in front of each ear. When the jaw becomes tense—often due to stress, anxiety, or habitual clenching—it can affect surrounding structures, including the ear canal and muscles near the ear.
Some common experiences that may occur include:
- Ear ache
- Clicking or popping sounds when opening or closing the jaw, such as during chewing
- A sensation of fullness or pressure in the ears
- Heightened awareness of normal ear noises, such as ringing or crackling
These sensations are often temporary and related to muscle tension rather than a serious ear condition. However, ongoing discomfort should be monitored, and discussing it with a healthcare professional can help you understand what’s typical.
Simple Ways to Support Jaw and Ear Awareness
Stress is a normal part of life, there are steps you can take to reduce jaw tension and support ear comfort:
- Self care: To ease symptoms, apply heat or ice, depending on the type of TMJ symptoms. Avoid teeth clenching, gum chewing and nail biting. Keep your jaw in a relaxed position.
- Relaxation Techniques: Practices like deep breathing, meditation, or mindfulness may help reduce overall muscle tension.
- Seek advice from a healthcare professional: To assess your symptoms. Dental X-rays or other scans may be required to show the issues with the joint’s bone, disc and surrounding soft tissue.
- Oral splints or mouth guards. Often, people with jaw pain will benefit from wearing a soft or firm device inserted over their teeth.
- Monitoring Ear Changes: Be aware of unusual or persistent sensations, such as ongoing fullness or ringing.
When to Seek Professional Advice
Most jaw-related ear sensations linked to stress are temporary. However, if you notice the following symptoms, consult a qualified healthcare professional such as The Ear Nurses:
- Persistent discomfort in the ears or jaw
- Continuous ringing in the ears or muffled hearing
- Difficulty opening or closing your mouth
- Clicking, popping or grinding sounds
Key Takeaways
- Stress and anxiety can increase jaw tension, which may cause temporary ear sensations.
- Sleep and relaxation is important. Make sure you get a good night’s sleep
- Relaxation techniques such as meditation and mindfulness can support comfort.
Awareness of your ears and jaw can help you recognise changes that might need professional discussion.