Frequent Ear Infections Antibiotics, Tubes or A Simple Proper Swallow? By Dr. Nishita Ondhia

A common concern amongst our younger population is the frequent ear infection. In keeping with the current break and fix model of medical care where a quick fix to alleviate symptoms is always on deck, the treatment for ear infections is antibiotics and/or eventually ear tubes. Quite often, because the root cause has not been identified, ear infections recur with greater frequency and a cycle of antibiotics and tubes is initiated with no end in sight. This is very frustrating for parents and children.
“The body wants to be healthy” is the underlying tone of all functional medicine and dentistry. Let us ask why are the ear infections occurring in the first place. Furthermore, why are they recurring?
An ear infection is the result of stagnating fluid within the Eustachian tube. This fluid does not turn over and this results in an infection.
Let’s break this down. The Eustachian tube is a narrow channel connecting the middle ear to the nasopharynx (the upper part of the throat behind the nose). Please note, we are now talking about the airway. There are three primary functions of the Eustachian tube:

• equalize air pressure between the middle ear and the outside environment (imagine being on a plane)
• regular drainage of fluid from the middle ear
• protect the middle ear from load sounds and pathogens

A dysfunctional Eustachian tube leads to symptoms like ear pain, a fullness feeling in the ear, muffled hearing and potential hearing loss. The underlying issue is an inability to turn over the fluid in the middle ear which when not turned-over will result in an infection.
Why is the fluid not being turned over, why is the Eustachian tube not draining this fluid? There is an issue with the drainage.
What does proper drainage look like? The Eustachian tube is closed at rest and opens when one swallows, creating a negative pressure. This negative pressure is a result of the tongue compressing on the palate thus creating a seal. With a vacuum swallow, the Eustachian tube opens, allowing drainage and turnover of fluid.
IN ORDER FOR THE EUSTACHIAN TUBE TO DRAIN, ONE NEEDS A PROPER SWALLOW. If you have a dysfunctional swallow, there is no negative pressure and the tube will not open, the fluid will not drain, it will stagnate and become infected.
It is important to note improper swallows are often associated with tongue ties and/or malocclusions (unideal jaw relationships and unideal spacing).

– Dr. Nishita Ondhia