When ear wax builds up, some simple home remedies like irrigation or softening drops can help remove the blockage, according to Medline Plus. But the ear is a delicate and vulnerable organ, so a little know-how and a few simple precautions can help prevent complications.
Function
Ear wax is designed to keep the ear clean by collecting dust, bacteria, and other nasty things that don't belong in the ear, reports the American Academy of Otolaryngology. It also helps keep the ear moist. Ear wax normally moves along the ear canal and out of the opening, where it falls away harmlessly, taking the trash out with it.
Symptoms
Some people produce more ear wax than the ear can get rid of. Other people accidentally cause a blockage when they try to clean the ear by pushing a cotton swab or other object inside, pushing the wax down deeper, where it gets stuck. Symptoms include pain, hearing loss, feeling that the ear is stuffed and ringing or other noises in the ear.
Solutions
You can soften the wax with mineral oil, baby oil, glycerin, over-the-counter ear wax softening drops or hydrogen peroxide. Tilt your head so the blocked ear is pointing up, and gradually fill the ear, using a medicine dropper, recommends Aetna InteliHealth. Wait five minutes. Turn your ear down and let the liquid flow out. You may need to repeat the procedure once or twice a day for a few days.
You can also buy an irrigation kit for removing ear wax. The kit will provide a syringe that allows you to run a gentle stream of water or saline into the ear to loosen the wax. It's important to warm the water to body temperature to prevent dizziness, according to Medline Plus.
Considerations
Irrigation is not a good solution for those who have diabetes, a perforated eardrum, tubes in their ears or a weak immune system, according to the American Academy of Otolaryngology. Irrigating an ear with a damaged ear drum could cause injury or an infection.
Don't try to dig the wax out with a cotton swab, finger or other probe. You may worsen the problem by pushing the wax deeper, and you risk of puncturing the eardrum, according to Aetna Intellihealth.
Warning
If home remedies don't work, see your doctor. He can remove the wax with more irrigation, if appropriate, suction or a curette. You should call your doctor if you develop new symptoms, like fever, fluid draining from the ear or severe hearing loss or pain.
Ear candles are sometimes sold as a remedy for ear wax but they can cause burns and other injuries, according to the American Academy of Otolaryngology.
