Why Teeth Grinding May Be Causing Ringing in Your Ears

Ringing in the ears is one of those symptoms that rarely points clearly in one direction. Patients describe it in different ways. A high tone that comes and goes. A faint buzzing that becomes noticeable at night. Pressure that feels like it should clear, but does not.

Most people assume the problem must be related to hearing. Ears feel like the obvious place to start. Dentistry is usually not part of that picture.

And yet, a surprising number of patients who mention ringing or pressure in the ears also clench or grind their teeth. Often without realizing it. Sometimes for years.

At Gamma Dental Clinic in Brooklyn, this connection comes up quietly, usually during conversations that are not directly about the ears at all. Jaw soreness. Tooth wear. Morning headaches. Care is overseen by Dr Olga Gelfand and Dr Zoren Ratner, who look at how bite function and muscle tension affect areas well beyond the teeth themselves.

Teeth grinding often goes unnoticed

Teeth grinding, sometimes referred to as bruxism, is not always obvious. Many people grind only at night. Others clench during the day without realizing it. There is often no sound, no dramatic movement, nothing that feels like “grinding” in the usual sense.

Instead, signs show up indirectly. Teeth that look flatter than they used to. A jaw that feels tight in the morning. Facial muscles that never fully relax. Some patients notice headaches near the temples or soreness that fades as the day goes on.

Grinding does not need to be severe to create strain. Small, repeated tension over long periods can be enough.

The jaw and the ear share more than proximity

The jaw joint sits close to the structures of the ear. Muscles involved in chewing and clenching run through the same general region. When those muscles remain tense, the effects are not always confined to the mouth.

This does not mean that grinding damages the ear itself. More often, it creates stress in surrounding tissues. The body sometimes interprets that stress as sound, pressure, or fullness.

For some patients, the sensation is subtle. For others, it becomes difficult to ignore. The variability makes the connection easy to miss.

Ringing does not always sound like ringing

Not everyone hears a clear tone. Some patients describe buzzing. Others notice clicking or popping. Some feel pressure without any sound at all.

Symptoms may be worse at night, after waking, or during periods of increased stress. They may disappear for weeks, then return without warning.

Because these sensations do not feel dental in nature, patients often pursue other explanations first. Hearing tests. Sinus treatment. Stress management. Sometimes those paths help. Sometimes they do not.

How grinding contributes over time

Grinding places repeated force on the jaw joint and surrounding muscles. Over time, the joint may not rest as easily. Muscles remain partially contracted, even when they should relax.

This constant low-level tension can radiate. Toward the ears. Into the neck. Across the head. The result may feel neurological or auditory, even when the source is mechanical.

The key detail is timing. These changes develop slowly. That makes them harder to connect to a single habit.

Stress often links both symptoms

Stress is frequently part of the picture. Many patients clench more during periods of emotional or mental strain. They do not notice the habit, but their muscles do.

Ear symptoms often intensify during the same periods. This overlap reinforces the belief that stress is the main cause. Stress does play a role, but it is rarely the only factor.

Reducing stress helps, but it does not always undo patterns that have already formed in the jaw.

Why dental findings can change the conversation

Patients are often surprised when a dental exam reveals signs of grinding. Flattened biting surfaces. Small fractures. Changes in how teeth meet. Tender jaw muscles.

Suddenly, ear symptoms that felt unrelated begin to make more sense. Not as a standalone ear problem, but as part of a broader pattern involving the jaw.

Dental evaluation does not replace medical evaluation. It adds another layer of context that is often missing.

Managing jaw-related ear symptoms

There is rarely a single solution. Management focuses on reducing strain rather than eliminating sound.

Some patients benefit from night guards that reduce grinding forces. Others need evaluation of bite contact. Awareness of daytime clenching can help, but habits change slowly.

Improvement is often gradual. Symptoms may lessen in intensity before they disappear. In some cases, they become easier to ignore rather than fully resolving.

Why symptoms do not stop immediately

Patients often expect that addressing grinding will immediately stop ear symptoms. Sometimes that happens. Often it does not.

Muscles and joints adapt slowly. Nerves that have been irritated over time do not reset instantly. Progress tends to be uneven.

Understanding this early helps prevent frustration.

When to consider dental input

If ringing in the ears is accompanied by jaw pain, tooth wear, headaches, or facial tension, dental evaluation becomes relevant. Especially when other explanations have not fully accounted for the symptoms.

This does not mean dentistry holds the only answer. It means the jaw should not be overlooked.

Frequently Asked Questions