Hi. I've been braced for about 7 months now, and I've come to a new issue in my life. Dizziness. My doctor thinks it's an inner ear disturbance and I am going for some tests tomorrow.
I was just curious to know if my braces could have anything to do with it? I seriously doubt it, but you never know.
Your occlusion can affect the TMJ which could lead to inner ear issues. I have discussed this with an ENT in my area and we both agree that stuff like this could be related. But then again there are a lot of reasons for inner ear issues.
I've been braced for 9 days now and I've noticed its making my Meniere's disease worse (which can cause dizziness) so I think there can be some kind of relatedness. Good luck!
2.6 years (30 months) with Invisalign plus 19 months 2 weeks with metal braces to achieve the perfect smile.
Meniere's Disease... I've heard of this. Sounds awful. I am going through blood tests and CT scans tomorrow. They want to do an MRI of my ears, too, but wouldn't the braces affect the magnetic aspect of the test??
Gee I would think braces would goof up an MRI, but I'm not a dr so who am I to say? I guess I was lucky when I got diagnosed cause all they did was a special 3 hr hearing test which made it really clear it was Meniere's. I've been diagnosed for 4 yrs now and it really isn't that bad if its caught early. I never had dizziness (just ear fullness) before so I have no clue if its the Meniere's causing my dizziness or what. I hate to call my ENTs office and get laughed at for thinking there is a connection between the two. After all if the braces are causing my dizziness then what is the solution? I'd hate to stop treatment. I'm going to give it a few more days before I act.
Hope your tests go well!!!
2.6 years (30 months) with Invisalign plus 19 months 2 weeks with metal braces to achieve the perfect smile.
Thanks... CT scans don't take long, so I should be in and out of there in no time. I read a little about what you have, and you know, a lot of what they were saying makes a lot of sense to me... we'll have to see what the scans say. What sort of tests did you go through for your diagnosis?
They did some sort of special hearing test that measures brain waves in response to noise (they give the same test to newborns to find out if there is hearing loss). They also did a regular hearing test which showed I was losing low pitched hearing which is what made them think Meneire's. A lady I work with thought she had Meneire's and they made her have an MRI, CT, etc. Turns out they couldn't figure out what was causing her problems but I guess since the basic hearing test (which is what they did first for me) was off I got to skip the MRI and such.
When I first got the diagnosis I was devastated but following a low sodium diet really isn't bad (as long as it isn't super low). The worst part of the whole thing is taking Lasix cause it really makes you go to the bathroom. Thankfully my hearing test improved so now I only have to take Lasix when I feel like I need it (i.e. when my ear starts feeling full and bothering me). Gee, at least I don't have to worry about gaining water weight
2.6 years (30 months) with Invisalign plus 19 months 2 weeks with metal braces to achieve the perfect smile.
Hi folks. I don't have what you folks are describing, but thought I would let you know something else that could affect you. I developed a sensitivity to environmental fumes. I get an allergic when I am exposed. What happens is all my sinuses / throat start swelling. This in turn causes my Eustation tube to close off and my middle ear fills with fluid. I am sure both sides get affected, but my left side must have smaller openings and I notice problems with it first. Taking Allegra or Suphedrine will alleviate the problem.
I wish you well with your tests strugglebunny.
Had Damon 3 / Smart Clips for almost 2 years
Now in Hawley upper 10 hours/day, permanent lower retainers
Hi folks. I don't have what you folks are describing, but thought I would let you know something else that could affect you. I developed a sensitivity to environmental fumes. I get an allergic reaction when I am exposed. What happens is all my sinuses / throat start swelling. This in turn causes my Eustation tube to close off and my middle ear fills with fluid. I am sure both sides get affected, but my left side must have smaller openings and I notice problems with it first. Taking Allegra or Suphedrine will alleviate the problem.
I wish you well with your tests strugglebunny.
Had Damon 3 / Smart Clips for almost 2 years
Now in Hawley upper 10 hours/day, permanent lower retainers
Well, I got my CT scan done. Very easy. I go on Tuesday to my family doctor to go over the results of my bloodwork and CT scan, hopefully. I asked the nurse who performed the scan about my braces and the MRI... she called scanning for me, and they said they do MRIs on people with braces... the images just come out streaky sometimes. Especially because mine would be on the ears. We'll see. I feel pretty good today- my right ear is ringing and full. I have a headache too. It's never my left ear- always the right. Yesterday, I felt like I was in a fog all day for no reason, other than my ear ringing. I'm getting tired of feeling like this. But it feels good to vent...lol. Sorry, Lynne, I know this is way off topic by now.
Sounds like Meniere's to me (but of course I'm just a fellow sufferer not a doctor). While your waiting for the test results try limiting your sodium intake, which if you do have Meniere's would help. A good rule to follow is look at the label of what your contemplating eating and if its sodium content is over 600, don't eat it! Pretty much all prepackaged soups, pastas, etc are out but once things are under control you can spurge and have them every once in awhile.
In an interesting side note, I ran into someone that used to work at my ENTs office and said my ENT is notorious for misdiagnosis so she questioned the Meniere's diagnosis. I started thinking about it but I really think he was on the mark with my diagnosis.
2.6 years (30 months) with Invisalign plus 19 months 2 weeks with metal braces to achieve the perfect smile.
im having ear problems also, i don't know if it relates to braces or not.
i have tinnitus (for me a really high pitched humming in both ears/head) which i really can't remember when it started, but it's gotten worse in the last few months. i don't think i had this before braces but i am not positive - if i did it was not enough to bother me.
also that 'fullness' someone described, this past month. no idea if braces have anything to do with it. my left ear drum is retracted. the doctor gave me some antibiodic ear drops and hoping that it will help and kind of clear up on its own. it could be allergies too.
but i wouldn't be surprised if braces had something to do with making these problems worse.
Last edited by gorie on Sun Sep 04, 2005 7:58 pm, edited 1 time in total.
I just want them to figure it out because the hum in my right ear is getting to me...lol. I've always had a problem with that ear- if I got a sinus infection, that ear would always block up, etc. I have to take Allegra-D just to keep it open. (I've got HORRIBLE allergies... sheesh) But now that isn't even working and i always feel like I'm on the verge of being carsick. Yesterday wasn't bad, but I feel it more today. I notice that it bothers me more when I'm tired.
How does a low sodium diet help the ears? That's very interesting.
Anyway, thanks everyone. I'll keep you posted on the outcome of my tests.
I've been braced for about 7 months now, and I've come to a new issue in my life. Dizziness. My doctor thinks it's an inner ear disturbance and I am going for some tests tomorrow.
I am going through blood tests and CT scans tomorrow. They want to do an MRI of my ears, too, but wouldn't the braces affect the magnetic aspect of the test??