Did you know that there is a connection between tooth extraction and hearing loss?
There are cases of people losing their hearing after tooth extraction. It can happen in one ear or both ears. Some people also experience loss of balance or tinnitus.
This type of hearing damage is fairly rare. Here are some potential reasons for the connection between tooth extraction and hearing loss:
- Dental work may come with vibrations. Tooth drilling is one obvious example. These vibrations impact the cochlea and they can damage the sensitive bones in the middle ear. Although drilling can be loud, it does not generally cause noise damage.
- In some cases, dental work can decrease the blood supply to the middle and inner ear.
- Local anesthesia can be necessary for tooth extraction. The drugs used to numb the pain can have a negative effect on hearing.
If you have recently had dental surgery, you should pay particular attention to your balance and hearing. At the first sign of tinnitus or hearing loss, contact a medical professional.
Since the link between tooth extraction and hearing loss can have different sources, there isn’t a single form of treatment that will work for everyone. Some may need time to recover their hearing, while others may be prescribed drugs such as prednisolone and betahistine.
A Final Word
Good oral hygiene is an important part of hearing loss prevention. After all, tooth infections and dental cavities are associated with hearing loss. Both swellings and infections can cause damage to the cochlea.
Additionally, some over-the-counter painkillers people take for toothaches can be ototoxic. In other words, they can cause hearing damage when a person keeps taking them for too long. But this is only one of many reasons that you shouldn’t put off going to the dentist.
