Ear wax, or cerumen, prevents bacteria, dust and other foreign objects from damaging the inner ear. Excessive ear wax exits the ears naturally, but in certain instances it may accumulate in the ear canal, causing a condition called cerumen impaction. Always check with your doctor before cleaning out impacted earwax, especially in a child or someone with a ruptured eardrum.
Drops
Placing drops in the affected ear is often the only solution necessary to clean out compacted ear wax, especially in mild cases of wax blockage. Both water-based drops and oil-based drops can be effective remedies. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, water-based solutions, such as hydrogen peroxide, sodium bicarbonate, saline and plain water, soften the wax. As a general rule of thumb, use enough of the water-based drops to fill the ear canal completely. Oil-based solutions--which include almond oil, olive oil and mineral oil--lubricate the wax, so you should only need to use three to four drops in the affected ear.
Flushing
Often called irrigation, flushing of the ear canal with plain water or saline in a syringe is a commonly used method for cleaning out ear wax both at home and in doctors’ offices. According to the American Academy of Otolarygology-Head and Neck Surgery, or AAOHNS, this method works particularly well when used 15 to 30 minutes after administering drops to soften the wax. MedlinePlus states that body-temperature water should be used to minimize the chances of causing problems associated with hot or cold water, such as dizziness or vertigo. Always direct the water flow at the wall of the ear canal directly next to the wax blockage to minimize the risk of pushing the wax plug farther back into the ear canal.
Manual Extraction
Due to the possible danger of causing trauma to the ear canal or ear drum, manual removal of compacted ear wax should only be performed by a doctor. According to MayoClinic.com, a doctor may use a curved tool--called a curette--or suction to aid in manually removing hardened wax. In certain situations, such as when you have ear tubes in place, a perforated ear drum or narrow ear canals, manual wax extraction is the preferred wax removal method, notes the AAOHNS. In most instances, manual wax extraction can be done in a single office visit to a primary care doctor or otolaryngologist, a doctor specially trained to deal with ear, nose and throat health issues.
