A full or blocked feeling in the ear: the ear, the jaw joint or a tooth?

The middle ear, behind the eardrum, is connected to the back of the nose by a thin channel called the Eustachian tube. Cleveland Clinic writes that this tube equalises the air pressure in the middle ear with the outside and helps fluid drain, and that when it does not open and close properly, the most common symptom is muffled hearing, as if you were underwater. Fullness in the ear, clicking or popping sounds, dizziness, earache, ringing in the ears and hearing loss can also come with it. The cause is usually conditions that make the nose and throat swell, such as allergies, colds and flu; Cleveland Clinic also lists stomach reflux. Symptoms can get worse with changes in altitude, for example on a plane.

The second common cause is earwax. The NHS writes that a build-up of earwax can cause hearing loss, earache or a feeling that the ear is blocked, ringing in the ear and dizziness, and that hearing is usually reduced in one ear. Earwax normally falls out on its own. The NHS states that trying to remove wax with your fingers or cotton buds pushes it further in and makes things worse, and that there is no evidence that ear candles or vacuum devices work.

Ear infection and sinusitis are the third group. The NHS writes that an ear infection usually starts quickly and causes pain inside the ear, a high temperature, difficulty hearing, discharge from the ear and a feeling of pressure or fullness in the ear, and that most clear up within 3 days, sometimes a week. The NHS also lists a feeling of pressure in the ears among the symptoms of sinusitis. In other words, fullness that starts with a blocked nose after a cold and is felt in both ears at once usually belongs to this group.

The jaw joint sits just in front of the ear canal, and its link with ear symptoms is stronger than people think. In a meta-analysis of eight studies examining ear symptoms in adults diagnosed with a jaw joint disorder (temporomandibular disorder), the most common ear symptom was a feeling of fullness; it was followed by earache, ringing in the ears, dizziness and hearing loss. The rate of fullness was found to be around 75 percent, but this rate rests on a subgroup of only 50 patients and there is a very wide range between studies; the figure is not certain, the direction is what matters. A 2026 review also writes that ear symptoms are seen in people with jaw joint problems without any ear disease, and that these symptoms are often put down to ear disease and the diagnosis is delayed. The link is observational; the mechanism is not known for certain.

The clues that set an ear symptom coming from the jaw joint apart are in the NHS description: pain around the jaw, ear and temple, clicking, popping or grinding noises when the jaw moves, headaches around the temples, not being able to open the mouth fully and the jaw locking; the pain gets worse when chewing and at stressful times. The NHS lists jaw pain, worn or broken teeth, headaches and earache among the symptoms of teeth clenching and grinding (bruxism), and directs people who clench and have pain in the jaw, face or ear to a dentist. Ear fullness that is noticeable when you wake up in the morning and comes with jaw tiredness also brings the jaw to mind if the ear examination is normal.

Another route on the dental side is referred pain. When listing the possible causes of earache, the NHS lists a dental abscess for earache that comes with toothache. Pain from the lower molars can spread to the ear and the angle of the jaw; we have covered this in detail on our page about pain that spreads to the jaw and ear. In this situation, pain is usually more to the fore than fullness, and there is tenderness in a tooth triggered by heat, cold or biting.

The picture that must not be missed is sudden hearing loss. The clinical guideline of the American Academy of Otolaryngology writes that sudden hearing loss often comes with ringing in the ears or dizziness, and that the type that comes from the inner ear occurs in 5 to 27 people per 100,000 a year. The guideline recommends that at the first visit doctors tell whether the loss is conductive (a blockage such as wax or fluid) or of the inner ear or nerve type, and that a hearing test is done as soon as possible, within 14 days of the symptom. For the inner ear type, steroid treatment can be offered as an option within the first 2 weeks. Because sudden hearing loss can feel to the person like a blocked ear, mistaking it for earwax or a cold and waiting can use up this time.

Finally, inner ear diseases. The NHS writes that in Ménière's disease the symptoms start suddenly, can last from a few minutes to 24 hours, and bring spinning dizziness, unsteadiness, ringing in the ears, hearing loss, pressure or pain deep in the ear, nausea and vomiting together. The NHS stresses that if a spinning feeling comes with a drooping face, not being able to lift the arms, difficulty speaking, a sudden vision problem in one eye or severe unsteadiness, this may be a sign of a stroke and an ambulance should be called straight away.

The first list is signs that point to causes of ear fullness from the ear, the nose or the jaw that are usually not urgent. If an item in the second list applies to you, do not wait.

The sequence deliberately starts with the possibilities that threaten hearing and the brain, then moves on to telling the ear, the nose, the jaw and the teeth apart.

1. 1

   First, sudden hearing loss and signs of stroke

   If your hearing has suddenly dropped, see a doctor the same day. If dizziness comes with a drooping face, weakness in an arm, problems with speech or a sudden vision problem, call 112.

2. 2

   Your own observations

   Make a note: does the fullness change when you swallow or yawn, does it get worse when you chew or open your mouth, is it noticeable in the morning, is it in one ear, has your hearing dropped, is there ringing or dizziness, and have you recently had a cold, a flight or dental treatment? These answers shorten the doctor's work considerably. Do not put cotton buds or your finger in your ear.

3. 3

   Ear examination

   The doctor looks at the ear canal and the eardrum, looking for findings such as wax, infection, fluid or a drawn-in eardrum. Cleveland Clinic writes that with a Eustachian tube problem, tympanometry, which measures how the middle ear is working, and hearing tests may be done.

4. 4

   Hearing test

   With sudden hearing loss, the guideline recommends telling whether the loss is conductive or of the inner ear type, and doing a hearing test as soon as possible, within 14 days of the symptom. Routine brain CT scans and routine blood tests, on the other hand, are not recommended in the guideline.

5. 5

   Nose and sinus assessment

   You are asked about a blocked nose, coloured discharge, allergy symptoms and reflux; this is often where the cause of a Eustachian tube problem lies.

6. 6

   Examination of the jaw joint and the teeth

   When the ear examination and hearing come back normal, the dentist examines the jaw joint, the chewing muscles, how wide the mouth opens and signs of wear on the teeth, and if needed tests the teeth and takes an X-ray. The NHS lists among the causes of jaw joint problems teeth clenching, wear in the joint, a blow to the head or face, stress and an uneven bite.

Treatment of ear fullness varies with the cause; an ear, nose and throat (ENT) doctor, your GP (family doctor), a pharmacist or a dentist becomes involved.

Below are the wrong decisions often seen with this complaint, and what they cost.

The length varies with the cause. The sequence below is the usual course described by the sources; the plan of the doctor who follows you up comes first.

1. The first 3 days

   The NHS writes that most ear infections clear up within 3 days, sometimes lasting a week. If earache lasts more than 2–3 days, see a doctor.

2. The first 5 days

   For earwax, the NHS recommends keeping up oil drops for 3–5 days and going to the health centre if it has not improved in 5 days; it can take about 2 weeks for the wax to fall out in pieces.

3. 1–2 weeks

   Cleveland Clinic writes that Eustachian tube problems usually clear up in 1–2 weeks, and that you should see a doctor if it lasts more than a few weeks.

4. Long-lasting or recurring fullness

   With fullness that has gone on for weeks even though the ear and hearing came back normal, and that comes with jaw symptoms, ask for a dental assessment for the jaw joint and teeth clenching.

We do not give a single figure here, because ear fullness is sometimes sorted out at the pharmacy and sometimes in several departments at once. These are the items that determine the scope:

Where the cause is

The ear, the nose, the inner ear or the jaw joint; each needs a different examination and tests.

Hearing tests and imaging

A hearing test, tympanometry and, if needed with inner ear type loss, an MRI scan or an auditory brainstem test.

Jaw joint treatment

A night guard, physiotherapy or repairing tooth wear can widen the scope.

A dental source

If the source of referred pain is a tooth, treatment of that tooth is planned separately.