Ever get a sharp pain in your ear when you swallow? It’s surprisingly common, and if it happens to you, you’re probably wondering why. That pain can be distracting and concerning.
This article will break down the possible reasons your ear hurts when you swallow, what other symptoms to look out for, and what your doctor might do to figure out what’s going on. We’ll also go over treatments that can help.
The causes can range from simple infections to less common conditions, so let’s take a closer look.
How Swallowing Affects Your Ears
Your ears and throat are more connected than you might think. A small channel called the Eustachian tube connects your middle ear to the back of your throat. This tube’s main job is to equalize pressure in your middle ear, helping your eardrum vibrate correctly.
When you swallow, muscles contract to move food down your esophagus. This action can affect the Eustachian tube. If the tube is blocked or not working correctly, it can cause pressure imbalances and even pain in your ear when you swallow.
Common Causes: Infections
One of the most common reasons for ear pain when swallowing is an infection. Here are a few of the infections that may be to blame.
Ear Infections
Ear infections can cause a lot of pain, especially when you swallow.
Middle Ear Infection (Acute Otitis Media)
Most middle ear infections start with another condition, like a cold, the flu, a sinus infection, or allergies.
The symptoms of a middle ear infection often include ear pain and fever. The good news is, most middle ear infections clear up on their own in about a week.
Swimmer’s Ear (Otitis Externa)
Swimmer’s ear is an infection in the outer ear canal, and it’s often caused by water that stays in your ear after you’ve been swimming.
But swimming isn’t the only way to get this type of infection. Using Q-tips, your fingers, or other objects in your ear can also lead to an outer ear infection.
Throat Infections
Sometimes, an infection in your throat can cause ear pain.
Tonsillitis
Tonsillitis is simply inflammation of the tonsils, those two pads of tissue at the back of your throat.
Because of the way the nerves are arranged in your head and neck, tonsillitis can cause referred pain in your ear.
Peritonsillar Abscess
A peritonsillar abscess is a collection of pus that forms behind one of your tonsils.
Because of its location and severity, a peritonsillar abscess is more likely to cause ear pain than tonsillitis.
TMJ Disorders
It might seem odd that something wrong with your jaw joint could cause ear pain, but it’s surprisingly common.
Understanding TMJ
The temporomandibular joint, or TMJ, is the joint that connects your jaw to your skull. You can feel it working if you put your fingers just in front of your ears and then open and close your mouth.
TMJ disorders (TMD) are conditions that affect the TMJ and the muscles surrounding it.
How TMJ Disorders Cause Ear Pain
The TMJ is right next to the ear, so it’s easy to see how a problem there could cause pain in your ear. When the muscles around the TMJ are tense, this pain can also be referred to the ear.
If you have a TMJ disorder, you might have difficulty opening your mouth wide, or you may hear clicking or popping sounds when you chew.
Because of the close proximity of the ear and TMJ and because of the way muscle tension can spread, a TMJ dysfunction can easily lead to pain in the ear, especially when swallowing.
Dental issues
Your ear pain when you swallow might be related to a dental problem. Here’s one possibility:
Dental abscesses
A dental abscess is a pocket of pus that’s caused by a bacterial infection.
How can a dental abscess cause ear pain? For one thing, you might be experiencing referred pain, meaning the pain is being felt in your ear but is actually coming from your jaw or somewhere else nearby. Also, if a dental infection is left untreated, it can spread and affect structures around it, including your ear.
Less Common Causes
Although ear pain when you swallow is most often the result of an infection or pressure imbalance, other, less common, causes are possible.
Eagle Syndrome
Eagle syndrome, sometimes referred to as styloid syndrome, is a rare condition caused by an elongated styloid process or a calcified stylohyoid ligament. The styloid process is a pointy bone located just below the ear, and the stylohyoid ligament connects that bone to the hyoid bone in your neck.
In Eagle syndrome, the elongated or calcified structures can irritate the nerves in your throat and neck, causing pain that’s triggered by swallowing or even just turning your head.
Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia
Glossopharyngeal neuralgia is another rare nerve disorder. It causes intense pain in the throat, tonsils, ear, and the back of the tongue. Swallowing, coughing, or even talking can trigger the nerve pain.
Barotrauma
Barotrauma is an injury caused by changes in air or water pressure. It’s especially common during altitude changes, like flying or diving. The Eustachian tube may not be able to equalize the pressure properly, leading to pain and discomfort in the ears, particularly when you swallow.
What symptoms should I watch for?
Ear pain can feel different depending on the cause. You might feel a sharp pain, a dull ache, throbbing, or just a constant pain.
If you have an ear infection, you might also have:
- a fever
- fluid coming from your ear
- trouble hearing
If you have a throat infection, you might also have:
- a sore throat
- trouble swallowing
- swollen tonsils
If your TMJ is the problem, you might also have:
- jaw pain
- clicking or popping sounds in your jaw
- a headache
Seek medical care immediately if you have:
- severe pain
- difficulty breathing or swallowing
- a high fever
How doctors diagnose ear pain
It’s important to see a doctor to diagnose the cause of ear pain, especially if it happens when you swallow.
To figure out what’s going on, they may use the following methods:
- Physical exam
- Careful visual inspection of the ear canal with an otoscope
- Throat swab to check for infection
- CT scan or MRI
Treatment Options
The best way to treat ear pain when you swallow depends on what’s causing it. Here are some of the most common treatment methods.
Home Remedies
For mild cases, you might find relief with simple home treatments, such as:
- Over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen
- Warm or cold compresses
- Chewing gum to help equalize the pressure in your ears
Medical Treatments
If your ear pain is more severe or doesn’t improve with home remedies, a doctor may recommend:
- Antibiotics for bacterial infections
- Decongestants to address Eustachian tube dysfunction
- Anti-seizure medications to manage glossopharyngeal neuralgia
- Physical therapy for TMJ disorders
- Other treatments targeted to address the underlying cause of your ear pain
When to Contact a Healthcare Provider
Ear pain when swallowing isn’t always serious, but you should contact a healthcare provider if you experience:
- Persistent ear pain
- Severe pain
- Ear pain with other symptoms like:
- Difficulty swallowing or breathing
- High fever
- Drainage from the ear
Wrapping Up
Ear pain that occurs when you swallow can result from several different causes. Infections of the middle ear or throat, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, and dental problems are common culprits. In rare cases, more serious conditions can be responsible.
If you experience persistent or severe ear pain when you swallow, it’s important to seek medical attention. A healthcare professional can accurately diagnose the underlying cause of your discomfort and recommend the most appropriate treatment plan.
Don’t hesitate to consult with a doctor or other qualified medical provider to get the relief you need.