How To Get Rid of Ear Pain From TMJ

Over the counter medications:

One of the easiest things you can do to relieve ear pain from TMJ is to take over-the-counter medication for inflammation. This is a great option because you most likely already have the medicine to help, so you don’t need to get a prescription. 

If you have pain in your ear canal, taking medication like ibuprofen or aspirin can help reduce swelling and ease your pain. 

Self exercises:

When you have ear pain from TMJ, one of the best things you can do to treat this pain is look at the root cause. If you address your TMJ pain, it will likely relieve the pain in your ears as well! Here are a few self exercises you can do on your own to help relieve your TMJ pain. 

First, you can try tucking your chin to your chest to improve your mobility. Simply pull your chin down, essentially creating a double chin, and hold your chin down. Then you can relax and repeat this exercise as necessary. 

Another great exercise you can try is opening and closing your mouth with resistance. Put your thumb under your chin with good pressure. Then, open and close your mouth slowly and work against this pressure. 

These movements can help relieve your pain and prevent ear pain from developing or worsening. 

Massages:

Many people don’t consider when learning how to treat ear pain from TMJ is setting an appointment with a licensed massage therapist. Generally, this pain comes from inflammation, tension, and more. 

Visiting a medical massage therapist can help you relieve this pain and reduce inflammation. In fact, getting a massage can also promote healing in your damaged muscles and relieve any tightness and tension. 

Getting a massage from a licensed massage therapist can also increase your blood circulation. When you have increased blood flow, it reduces your pain and helps you relax. A massage will also help you drain fluid from your ears and will keep it from getting worse. 

While some types of massages you can perform on yourself to help ease pain from TMJ, it is always best to visit a licensed massage therapist. They know the best techniques and can help you find immediate relief!

Additional Resource:

Do you want to know the best ways to treat TMJ? Read: How to Treat TMJ/TMD.

Sucking:

If you are experiencing a lot of pressure in your ears from TMJ pain, something that may help you is sucking on different foods. This can help you relieve pressure and can ease your ear pain. 

Using a straw with your drinks can help. Otherwise, you can suck on hard candy, cough drops, or anything else you have on hand!

Heat and cold:

Using both heating pads and cold packs is a great way to reduce inflammation. If your jaw joint is inflamed, this inflammation can spread up your jaw and up to your ear. Alternating heat and cold can help reduce pain and stop the inflammation from spreading. 

First, use an electric heating pad or some hot pack and leave it on your jaw and ear for about 10 to 20 minutes at a time. Make sure it isn’t too hot, so it does not burn you!

After using heat for 10 to 20 minutes, you can use an icepack in the same area for another 10 to 20 minutes. Whether you have an ear infection or ear pain from TMJ, you will find significant pain relief by alternating these packs several times a day!

Avoid overusing your jaw:

Finally, the best way to get rid of ear pain from TMJ pain is to avoid overusing your jaw. Using your jaw joint too much can cause more pain and inflammation to spread to your ear canal. 

Some things that can lead to a sore jaw joint or TMJ pain are clenching your jaw, grinding your teeth, and even chewing gum! When you open and close your mouth too much, it can lead to your jaw locking up and causing pain when you eat. 

To avoid overusing your jaw, you can try eating soft foods that don’t require too much chewing, avoiding gum and other chewy foods, and you can even do stretches and relaxation exercises to help your jaw relax. 

Learning how to treat Temporomandibular Joint Disorder can help you prevent ear pain from TMJ!

Additional Resource:

Do you want to know if you suffer from TMJ disorder or TMD? Read: The Complete List of Signs and Symptoms of TMJ.

Get Rid of Ear Pain With a TMJ Massage!

When you are experiencing ear pain from TMJ, it can significantly impact your daily life. Whether you go to an ENT specialist, also known as an ear nose and throat specialist, you can significantly reduce and prevent ear pain from TMJ if you follow these tips. 

Do you want to learn how to get rid of ear pain from TMJ? Finding a licensed massage therapist can also help! At Attune Massage Therapy, Jana can help you alleviate TMJ and TMD symptoms with physical therapy, education, and more.  

Contact our TMJ Specialist in Richmond, Virginia today to learn more about our medical massage therapy services.

For more information about Pediatric TMJ Massages, please visit: Pediatric TMJ.

This article should be used for educational purposes only (not advice, diagnosis, or treatment).