What Does It Mean When Your Ear and Tongue Hurt?

Symptoms that accompany ear and tongue pain vary depending on the cause. 

In addition to ear and tongue pain, symptoms of ear infections may include:

• Discharge from the ear (otorrhea)
• Itching in the ear
• Hearing loss 
• Ringing in the ear (tinnitus)
• Fullness in the ear
• Spinning sensation (vertigo)
• Nausea
• Vomiting 
• Fever 

Additional symptoms of a throat infection may include: 

• Throat pain
• Painful swallowing
• Difficulty swallowing
• Swollen, red tonsils
• Swollen glands in the neck
• Scratchy sensation in the throat
• Hoarseness or voice changes

Most cases of a throat infection are caused by viruses, usually viruses that cause upper respiratory infections such as the common cold. Additional cold symptoms that may accompany a throat infection include:

• Runny or stuffy nose 
• Cough
• Fever
• Feeling unwell (malaise)
• Soreness in the roof of the mouth
• Eye irritation or redness 

Additional symptoms of throat infection that are strep throat include:

• White patches of pus on the side or back of the throat
• Fever (temperature greater than 100.4ºF, or 38ºC)
• Tiny, red spots on the roof of the mouth 
• Streaks of pus on the tonsils
• Stomach pain
• Nausea
• Vomiting 
• Headache
• Rash (scarlet fever) 
• No cough, runny nose, or irritation/redness of the eyes

Additional symptoms of infectious mononucleosis (“mono”) may include:

• Extreme fatigue that can last for more than a month
• Fever 
• Sore throat
• Headache 
• Body aches
• Swollen lymph nodes in the neck and armpits
• Rash
• Swollen liver and/or spleen (less common)

Additional symptoms of ear injuries may include: 

• Hearing difficulties/hearing loss 
• Balance Problems
• Headaches
• Additional symptoms of an object in the ear may include:
• Redness, swelling, or discharge (blood, fluid, or pus) 
• A feeling of “fullness” or pressure in the ear
• Decrease in hearing on the affected side 
• In severe cases, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting, or balance problems

Additional symptoms of temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ) may include:

• Pain in the jaw joint
• Tight, stiff, or sore jaw or neck muscles
• Popping/clicking of the jaw
• Ringing in the ears (tinnitus) 
• A sense of fullness in the ears which can lead to hearing loss
• Headaches
• Blurred vision
• Facial pain, cheek pain, or chin numbness or tingling
• Pain, swelling, or a lump in the temple area
• Locking or dislocation of the jaw (usually after widely yawning), referred to as lockjaw
• Dizziness or vertigo

Additional symptoms of a dental abscess may include:

• Severe toothache or gum pain 
• Redness inside the mouth, or outside the mouth on the face or jaw
• Sensitivity to hot or cold food and drink in the affected area
• Bad taste in the mouth
• Difficulty opening the mouth and chewing food
• Fever

Treatment for ear and tongue pain depends on the cause. 

Mild symptoms of ear infections that affect the outer or middle ear usually resolve within one to two weeks and may go away on their own. When treatment for an ear infection is needed, it may include: 

• Rest
• Drink plenty of fluids
• Warm compresses applied to the area to help soothe pain
• Over-the-counter pain medications
• Decongestants to ease ear pressure 
• Anti-allergy medications 
  • Consult your doctor before using over-the-counter pain eardrops. Eardrops should not be used in children with tympanostomy tubes (ear tubes) unless specifically prescribed by a child’s pediatrician. 
• Antibiotics (oral or ear drops)
• Steroid ear drops

Treatment for throat infections depends on the cause. 

• If a throat infection is caused by a virus, there is no specific treatment. Treatment is aimed at relief of symptoms and may include: 
  • Throat sprays that contain topical anesthetics
  • Lozenges (cough drops) with topical anesthetics
    • Not recommended for young children; they can be a choking hazard
  • Drink plenty of liquids to stay hydrated
  • Sip warm beverages
  • Drink really cold beverages
  • Eat cold or frozen desserts  
  • Use a humidifier or take a steamy shower to help moisten the throat
  • Over-the-counter pain relievers 
  • Salt-water gargle
• Strep throat is a bacterial infection that is treated with antibiotics

Treatment for infectious mononucleosis (“mono”) is usually aimed at the relief of symptoms and may include: 

• Drinking fluids 
• Getting plenty of rest
• Over-the-counter (OTC) medications for pain and fever
• Avoid contact sports until you fully recover

Most traumatic eardrum injuries will heal on their own, but all should be examined by an otolaryngologist (ear, nose, and throat specialist, or ENT). Treatment for ear injuries may include: 

• Surgically patching the eardrum (tympanoplasty)
• Surgery to drain blood collecting on the outside of the ear
• Vestibular therapy for balance problems
• Hearing loss treatment:
  • Listening therapy with an audiologist (hearing specialist)
  • A hearing aid
  • An FM system or auditory trainer to reduce background noise

Treatment for an object in the ear may include:

• Trying gently to shake the object out if it is small 
  • Do not stick anything in the ear to remove it yourself as this can push the object in further and damage the ear canal or eardrum
• Removal by a medical professional if the object doesn’t fall out on its own 
  • Small children may need to be sedated 
  • Antibiotic drops after removal of the object to prevent infection 

Treatment for temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ) may include:

• Ice or cold packs to the area of the joint
• Over-the-counter (OTC) nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) 
• Eating soft foods and avoiding chewing gum
• Massage or gentle self-stretching of the jaw and neck muscles 
• Relaxation techniques and stress reduction
• A dental splint (occlusal splint or stabilization splint or bite guard)
• Botox to relax the muscles of the jaw (not FDA-approved for this use)
• Physical therapy with jaw exercises 
• Marijuana to help with severe TMJ pain in states where it is legal
• Surgery on the jaw or dental surgery in severe cases
• Prescription pain medicines, muscle relaxers, anti-inflammatory medications, or steroids 

Treatment for a dental abscess may include:

• A dentist will drain away the pus
• Root canal
• Tooth extraction
• Pain medicines
• Antibiotics for infection