Have you ever considered the connection between our ears and our teeth? Well, our oral and auditory health are more connected than you might think.
For example, you may have heard there is a link between toothaches and hearing loss. So, is that true? Can a toothache cause hearing loss?
This article will answer that question and dive deeper into the connection between these two areas.
Can A Toothache Cause Hearing Loss?
Yes, toothache or tooth decay and other dental health problems may lead to hearing problems and even hearing loss. In fact, many people have reported hearing loss after a toothache.
The ear, nose, and throat are connected by a complex network of tubes, canals, and extremely delicate passages. That is one of the reasons why detecting a problem in any one of those three areas frequently necessitates a review of the others.
But how exactly does toothache cause hearing loss?
How Does a Toothache Cause Hearing Loss?
A lack of dental care makes you more likely to experience hearing loss.
Deterioration of the teeth, abscesses, and inflammatory gums are linked to temporary hearing loss and other hearing disorders, such as tinnitus.
Toothaches are a common source of ear pain. Here are the common causes of toothache:
- Cavities
- Tooth injury
- Abscess in the teeth
- Gum disease
So how are they connected?
First, harmful bacteria grows in your mouth. Then, if not eradicated, this bacteria can enter your bloodstream.
Once the bacteria circulates in your bloodstream, it can spread to other parts of your body. This can cause serious health problems.
In worst-case scenarios, it may even result in irreversible hearing loss.
Irreversible Hearing Loss from Mouth Bacteria
In extreme cases, your blood vessels and arteries may become narrower than they should be, harming your hearing in the future.
How does this work? Well, if the blood arteries in your inner ear grow narrow, the hair cells in the inner ear cells will no longer receive enough blood. This results in permanent damage.
And bacteria that start in the mouth may also create inflammation in blood vessels in the brain. This results in reduced blood flow to the portion of the brain that receives information through the auditory nerve.
Damage to the auditory nerve also impairs your ability to hear.
How to Prevent a Toothache and Hearing Loss
Since we have discussed the connection between oral health and hearing loss, what steps can you take to prevent or treat this condition?
First, it is crucial to take your oral health seriously. This includes the following regimen:
- Booking bi-annual visits to the dentist for checkups and tooth cleaning
- Flossing your teeth once per day to remove plaque
- Brushing your teeth a minimum of two times per day with a fluoride toothpaste
- Reduce your consumption of sugary drinks and foods
However, if you are currently experiencing toothaches or pains, there are some treatments you may want to consider.
How to Treat a Toothache
Over-the-counter (OTC) analgesics (pain medications) such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and aspirin are safe and effective for treating tooth pain.
Understand that medications used to relieve toothache may cause hearing loss if used over an extended period or in excess. So only take these for the advised periods.
Taking high doses of aspirin can cause temporary hearing loss and tinnitus in some patients.
It was recently discovered that taking moderate doses of over-the-counter medications regularly increases the chance of developing hearing loss.
On the other hand, you can try some natural solutions, such as a saltwater rinse or fluoride treatment. See your dentist if the pain doesn’t subside after 2-3 days.
That way, you can address this issue and hopefully prevent any hearing loss.
So there you have it, a toothache can cause hearing loss, even permanent or sensorineural hearing loss.