Earwax (cerumen) plays an important role in keeping your ears healthy. Earwax helps prevent the growth of bacteria in the ear, as well as prevents dirt from entering the ear canal. In some cases, excessive earwax can accumulate in your ears and harden, causing blockages. There are several methods that can be used to remove earwax.
Cotton Swabs
Cotton swabs are one of the most popular ways to clean earwax from the ears. Although they are effective at removing some of the earwax buildup, some organizations such as the American Academy of Otolaryngology discourage using the swabs to clean out your ears. Cotton swabs, along with other probing objects, can push the earwax deeper, resulting in harder to treat blockages.
Hydrogen Peroxide
For mild earwax problems, inserting a few drops of hydrogen peroxide in your ears using an eye dropper may soften the wax when used over a four- or five-day period, according to the Mayo Clinic. Once the wax has softened, you can use a rubber-bulb syringe to squirt warm water into the ear to rinse out the wax. If your ears don't clear out after repeating this sequence a few times, or if your ears feel more blocked, see your doctor. Baby oil or mineral oil may also be used in substitution for hydrogen peroxide.
Irrigation
Irrigation can also be used to clean earwax out of the years. Ear irrigation flushes the ear with body-temperature water or saline solution. Although at-home irrigation kits are accessible, irrigating an ear with a perforated ear drum may push bacteria into the ear, causing infection. A doctor can ensure that the ear is healthy enough for irrigation, as well as provide better sanitary control during the procedure than an at-home kit.
Manual Removal
When irrigation is unsuccessful at completely removing earwax from the ear, your doctor may try manual removal. Your doctor will use a microscope, a small curved medical instrument called a curette and suction to remove the remaining earwax. Manual removal may be used in conjunction with irrigation.
