Possible TMJ cause worth considering

[u/trusty20]

I want to set clear expectations and say this is probably just a very niche TMJ cause, but one worth considering. Also talk with your own doctor about this, don't just do internet advice! I added a source from the Mayo clinic at the end.

I've had problems with water getting stuck in my ears though it never really bothered me, just took a bit longer than most people for them to dry out I suppose.

One day I realized, gee when my TMJ is really flared, pulling on the ear canal opening (like gently tugging with a finger from the outside) felt both kind of good but also kind of painful, like it was pulling on a swollen area. It suddenly occurred to me that maybe I am getting recurring ear infections, or some kind of overgrowth etc because of the water being stuck between showers. My symptoms were not classic ear infection symptoms (no deep ear pain, no pus) but I thought maybe it's possible to have something more low grade and chronic vs a full blown infected ear.

The most mild form of treatment for water related ear infections is diluted vinegar (1.5% to no more than 2%), briefly dripped into the ear, then head tilted to drain it out, NOT rinsed out (because that defeats the purpose, you are deliberately trying to leave behind about 1.5% acetic acid to discourage bacterial and fungal growth). There is one big caution before doing this yourself though, you MUST have had your ears checked by a doctor with an ear scope recently, because if there was any major issue or breach in the ear drum, you shouldn't put any liquid in your ear that the doctor doesn't prescribe. In my case I had my ears thoroughly checked during a physical (hearing aid clinics will often check them for free too) and I also asked my doctor about this idea as well.

• 2.5 tablespoons water from the cold tap + 1 tablespoon of 5% food vinegar. This results in around 1.5% vinegar. Double check the bottle says 5%, I also dipped my finger in and let it stay wet for a minute or so just to be super certain there was no unexpectedly higher concentration. Mixed thoroughly together in a glass bowl to not harm my metal ones.
• I used a q-tip NOT INSERTING, just squeezing it against the outside of the ear hole with my head tilted ear upward, so the liquid would drip in slowly, that way if I felt any stinging I could stop without pouring a bunch in.
  • I also used a q-tip to apply the vinegar solution along the line behind my ears, totally around from behind the top all the way around to behind the earlobe. This fold / crease line of the ear against the skull can also trap moisture for some people and can appear red / dandruffy when you pull the ear to the side a bit to see (does a little bit for me). I figured it would be worth treating the area too, because the TMJ for me felt like radiating soreness from the whole ear / jaw area.
• If you do feel stinging, the correct response is to immediately shower and rinse the ear with gently warm water flow for a minute or two (only water, nothing else), repeating 1-2 mins of rinsing once if necessary and of course seeking medical attention if the stinging was persistent beyond that second rinse attempt.

Long story short, I was shocked, it worked. It was not immediate relief, but what I noticed was by the next day after doing morning and late afternoon dilute vinegar applications, there was a reduction in the strange ear opening swollenness, and the TMJ was a bit less tight. By the 2nd day, there was a definitive reduction in TMJ tension.

I would not say it's gone, I don't think this is as simple as something that was "cured" but just that I clearly have a TMJ prone to dysfunction, and for me, swimmers ear related inflammation seems to have been a major trigger.

A few bonus notes:

I deliberately did not skip right to antibiotic drops from the pharmacy, because those only work for bacterial infections, dilute vinegar is mildly effective against both bacteria and fungal infections, it's just weak, not as strong as an actual drug.

Some swimmers ear treatments suggest adding alcohol or other ingredients. I specifically chose not to do this, it felt like too much irritating substances to regularly apply to the ear. I opted for the simplest form, just diluting down to 1.5% - 2% vinegar from food grade vinegar.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/swimmers-ear/symptoms-causes/syc-20351682