Ear wax removal.

 Ear Wax Removal 101: The Best (and Safest) Ways to Clear Clogged Ears

Trouble hearing? Or did you push that cotton swab a little too deep this time? A clogged ear from ear wax buildup is at best annoying and at worst a prelude to hearing loss. So how can you best handle ear wax woes?

Sometimes, trying to clean them causes more problems than it’s worth. Ears are like self-cleaning ovens. When the outer layer of skin in the ear canal sheds, the wax will fall out with it.

If your ears seem waxier than most, remember that earwax, also known as cerumen, is not only normal, it’s necessary.  It also protects ears from things that could hurt the eardrum, such as dust, hair or small insects.

But like most things in life, it’s all about balance — too much wax can block your ears and cause temporary hearing loss or infections.  Other factors that can affect your amount of ear wax include: Previous ear surgery or trauma, Recurrent ear infections, Wearing hearing aids or deep earplugs.

Two ear wax removal methods to try

If ear wax is becoming a nuisance, there are two easy ear cleaning methods:

1. Over-the-counter ear cleaning drops

If you have a small amount of wax, over-the-counter ear cleaners work well. Look for drops that contain hydrogen or other kinds of peroxide. The peroxide does a good job of breaking up ear wax.

Here’s how to use them:

Lay sideways: Make sure the ear you’re cleaning faces up and add the drops as directed.

Let it sit: Allow the cleaning solution to sit in your ear for around five minutes. This lets the liquid soak in and soften things up.

Grab a tissue: When you sit up, the liquid should come out, along with the ear wax that broke loose. Have a tissue ready to catch it all.

If that method doesn’t work, the ears might need flushing with a bulb syringe. 

But there are a few reminders: 

Be gentle: Flush your ear gently to avoid harming your eardrum.

Watch the temperature: The water should not be too cold or too warm. If it is, the temperature difference could make you dizzy.

Avoid if necessary: Don’t use the flushing method if you have a hole in your eardrum or if you’ve ever had eardrum surgery. Flushing may damage your eardrum repair.

If you are not comfortable flushing your own ears, you might want to check with your ENT doctor to see if he can do it for you.

Ear cleaning drops may not work if you have too much ear wax or a condition called impacted cerumen (when there’s a firm wax plug blocking your ear canal).

When it’s a plug, putting peroxide in your ear may make things worse because you’re softening the plug but not dissolving or removing it. Then the softened plug becomes like a wall of mud that can plug your ear even more.

2. Mineral or olive oil

People who put olive oil in their ear before getting a cleaning seem to get wax out more easily. It lubricates the ear canal, he explains. Others would recommend to use mineral oil.

Two ear wax removal remedies to avoid

1. Cotton swabs: A manufacturer’s warning on the package says it all: Do not insert swab into ear canal. A cotton swab tip pushes the ear wax in deeper, so the more you use it, the more ear wax you push in. Plus, you may rupture your eardrum if you push too far. Or if you scratch your ear canal, it can get infected because now dirt and bacteria can penetrate under your skin.

2. Ear wax removal candles: These candles don’t work, AND they may burn you.

When to see an ENT about a clogged ear

While ear wax is generally more annoying than dangerous, sometimes you need a doctor to clear it. If home remedies don’t work, your ear hurts or you have trouble hearing, it’s smart to seek medical evaluation.

Someone needs to look in and see if the ear canal is open or if the wax is plugging it up. 

If the situation is minor, you may be able to get your ears unblocked right then and there. If not, ENT doctors can use operating microscopes to magnify inside the ear canal, loosen the wax and vacuum it out.

And a clogged ear may have other causes. It could be a middle ear infection with fluid filling up the space behind the eardrum, Or you could have a viral infection that affects the inner ear. In those cases, a doctor can diagnose and treat you to prevent permanent hearing loss.

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