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How to Get Rid of Ear Wax

June 27th, 2007 by MartinDodge
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Ear Wax Buildup

Ear wax exists to protect your ear drums from dust, bacteria, insects, and the tongues of amorous drunks. Normally, there is no need to get rid of it. Ear wax is produced by glands in the ear canal. So long as the ear canal remains a moist, the wax will remain the consistency of a warm candle. But just as a marching band can have too many tubas, the ear canal can build up too much wax. Here’s how you discover a build-up of excess wax: ear pain (Learn how to get rid of ear aches), tinnitus (ringing or other phantom sounds), difficulty hearing, balance problems, and/or temporary deafness after you’ve submerged your head in water.

What Causes Excessive Ear Wax?

The presence of ear wax can be irritating and inconvenient, but the only real danger it poses is that it could shelter and incubate an ear infection (Tips on how to get rid of ear infections). For most people, the wax sheds itself when you sleep and when you move your jaw. Presumably, big eaters and people who talk a lot have fewer problems. Some people are more prone to yellow waxy buildup. Wax builds up due to overactive glands and aging. People with narrow ear canals, charmingly hairy ear canals, inflammatory skin conditions, or those who work in very dusty environments can also have problem ear wax. Sometimes it can be prevented through diet. Supposedly, a diet rich in omega 3 fatty acids will discourage wax buildup. Omega 3 fatty acids are found in things like avocados, ground flax seed, walnuts, and certain fish, like salmon and albacore tuna. Pasteurized dairy products have been shown to have an irritating effect on some people’s ears, and this could produce a waxy reaction.



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  1. November 18th, 2011 at 10:25 pm    John P. Bell Says:

    Some of the best treatments:
    1. Never stick any objects into your ear that is smaller in diameter than your pinky (suck as Q-Tips, cotton-tipped applicators, pencils, et cetera). Doing so can push that wax farther into your middle ear, and potentially cover the ear drum (called Cerumen impaction of the tympanic membrane, or earwax blocking the ear drum).

    2. Regardless of the stigma of Swimmer’s Ear (which can result from chlorinated water or parasitic pond water), tap water should drain naturally as well as evaporate in the heat of the middle-ear. With that said: during every shower, tilt your head against your shoulder & allow the warmest water tolerable to collect into your ear. Using your pinky finger into the external ear canal, agitate the water so as to disrupt the consistency of the wax. After about a minute, switch sides. This will allow water to drain from the first ear & water to collect into the second ear. Do this once to twice every time you shower.

    3. If you do have a large buildup of wax, use a graduated measure of treatment, beginning with the shower technique (don’t just start treatment by poking, prodding, or digging). Alcohol or Hydrogen Peroxide can help, unless there is irritation in the ear (from trying to dig the wax out manually), which will just cause pain.

    Outside of those methods, your physician can conduct a few procedures with tools that are manufactured for this purpose. The stool softener Docusate Sodium, specifically the liquid in the gelcap, is poured into the ear, breaking up the wax, then flushed with water &/or scraped out using a variety of ear-currettes. Like many medical conditions, prevention is the best remedy; take a shower.

  2. February 14th, 2011 at 2:28 pm    Colleen George Says:

    Well, at 38 I just started this excessive ear wax build up. It would get so bad every few months that I would feel deaf in my right ear. I would lay down on the pillow and it would completely close up. The best advice I have is not do to the candles, every doctor that I have been to has said, it isn’t good for your ear canal. So PLEASE stay clear of these. The use of q-tips only impacts it more. Using olive oil 2 times a week in your ears can help soften the wax up. This has helped a lot. But, I still have to go to the dr. every once in a while to get the more stubborn wax out. I don’t find it pleasant, doing the whole flushing your ears out, as the reader above stated, but it’s better than not being able to hear! :)

  3. November 21st, 2010 at 3:31 pm    Divalady Says:

    I don’t have much experience with swimmers ear, but from the ages of 3-18, I was at my doctors office at least 2 to 3 times a year either having my ear wax flushed or scooped out by my doctor. I later found out, that my left ear canal was smaller and curved. This was preventing the ear wax from draining. I have tried home ear wax removal such as the bulb syringe and debrox. These remedies only temporarily fix the problem. I asked an ENT why my ears build up so much wax, he explained that it’s nothing to worry about, some people just build up more then other!
    Oh and don’t use those ear wax candles! I recently found some FDA warnings about those! Best of luck.

  4. I dealt with swimmers ear for 6 months until a doc told me to mix 1/3 alchocol to 1 part vineager, the vinegar kills the fungus and the alchol dries it up, havent had it since!! put this in after every swim and you will be pain free!!!

  5. August 23rd, 2010 at 1:54 pm    jason Says:

    Help me plz i have alot of ear wax in my ear and plus that i have a really bad ear infection, so bad that when i sleep my ear drains splotches of blood come out, and i went to the dr and he flushed my ears out 3 or 4 times and still the wax wont come out out then he gave me ear drops for the infection but theres so much wax the drops cant soak in it sucks!!! plz HELP!!!!!!!

  6. August 19th, 2010 at 5:02 pm    Amanda Says:

    Ever since I was a baby I’ve had problems with my ears. Usually it had to do with swimming and I’d end up with an ear infection every time. I just recently bought an ear wax removal kit and I just put 3-4 drops of olive oil, let it stand for 5 minutes, then I flushed it out and now my ear is plugged up. Will it come out eventually?

  7. Go to the Doctor first to make sure it is actually plugged before you go out and buy drops or flush kit. My ear was plugged a few years ago and i ended up getting it flushed out by the doctor…. Happened again last week same feeling in my ear and loss of hearing. This time when I went to the doctor there was absolutely nothing in my ear it was a pressure issue. The Problem fixed itself later on i was chewing gum there was a crackling sound and i could hear again.

  8. July 9th, 2009 at 8:10 am    J Morrow Says:

    I to always got water in my ears swimming as a kid, dr told me to put several drops of rubbing alchol in them. Turn your head to the side put the drops in wait a few seconds and then turn your head over the other way…warm water will run out and no more water in your ears! It works!!

  9. July 6th, 2009 at 4:36 pm    sara Says:

    I bought a waterpik for my ears…they clog up every couple of months. The waterpik(only use the gentle pressure tip!) clears them in seconds…I don’t know what I would do with out it!!

  10. July 2nd, 2009 at 4:51 pm    gleveen m. Says:

    OMG,ON SUNDAY I WENT 2 THE POOL AND MY ENTIRE EAR GOT WATER IN IT.ITS STILL IN THERE AND ON TOP OF THAT I HAVE AN EAR INFECTION PRIOR TO THAT.WHAT SHOULD I DO?IM SCARED.I CANT LISTEN TO MUSIC OR SING AS GOOD AS I USED 2 CUZ I CANT HEAR CLEARLY.

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