Hi robert,
might I suggest that you stop eating such foods as taffy? Any kind of tough chewy or hard foods should be a no-no. It definitely sounds like your have a predisposition to having tmj problems so you need to baby your tmj, not tempt it.

Unfortunately, tinnitus is very frequent for tmj sufferers. I have it and usually can ignore it, but not always. When I open my mouth wide, it also gets louder. I haven't yet figured out how to "cure" it, if possible. If it bothers you at night, use a sleep machine. It's called white noise or something and they now make several different kinds. I prefer a fan-like noise.

Since you are a night-time clencher and/or grinder, you might want to keep in mind to get a bite splint made for you if you start to have pain regularly, particularly in the morning.

Baby your jaw, take care of it. You don't want to have tmj for 25 years like me.

Carol

I developed tinnitus 4 mths ago, at the time I had 3 teeth pulled, my tinnitus is allsorts of noises, even pulsating, and when I move my head from side to side I can hear a hum, I have only a little ear ache sometimes with no facial pain. When I move , like walking I can hear my body vibrate in my ears. Could it be tmj? Ps. Its much worse when lying down at night.