Ear wax, also called cerumen, keeps foreign objects, such as dust and bacteria, from entering and damaging the delicate parts of your inner ear. In many instances, excessive amounts of ear wax buildup inside your ears causes problems, such as hearing loss, odor, earaches and tinnitus (ringing in the ears), according to the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. Although people with ear wax problems can't control the amount of wax their ears produce, they can take measures to control the buildup through various remedies.
Drops
Inserting drops of liquid into your ears to soften the wax provides an effective yet low-cost remedy for ear wax buildup. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), appropriate liquids for this procedure include baby oil, glycerin, mineral oil, commercial ear drops and hydrogen peroxide.
You can use an eyedropper to place several drops of the liquid of your choice into the ear twice daily for three to five days. As the earwax softens, it often passes into the outer ear area, where you can remove it gently with a cotton swab. If necessary, you may need to use water irrigation to assist in removing some of the remaining wax.
Water Irrigation
Removing stubborn or excessively hard ear wax buildup from your ears may require the use of a gentle spray of water. Called water irrigation, this procedure uses the force of water to dislodge and remove the built-up wax. The NIH advises that you stick with body-temperature water to avoid possible side effects, such as dizziness, that often arise when very warm or cold water is used.
Always straighten the ear canal first by pulling the outside edge of your ear up and away from your body. Use a rubber bulb syringe instead of an instrument such as a water pik to minimize your chances of damaging the delicate eardrum. The NIH further cautions that you spray the water toward the wall of the ear canal next to the blockage instead of directly at the blockage itself.
Manual Removal
In certain instances, manual removal may be the only way to dislodge the wax from the ear canal. If it's not possible or practical to remove compacted cerumen with liquid drops or water irrigation a physician can remove the wax. Patients should not attempt to remove hardened wax manually--especially using sharp or pointed objects, such as cotton swabs or hair pins--as that typically just pushes the wax further back in the ear, which may lead to further complications, such as a perforated ear drum.
A doctor may use a microscope in combination with suction or a specialized scooping instrument called a curette. According to the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, manual removal is the most appropriate method for removing compacted ear wax during certain high-risk situations, such as when the patient has a perforated ear drum, ear tubes or narrow ear canals.
