Ear wax (cerumen) is produced in our ear canal. His presence is usually normal and healthy. But sometimes earwax buildup can be uncomfortable, unsightly, and in some cases temporarily affect your hearing.
Although there are products that work to remove earwax, there are several household products that you can use to clean the outer ear canal of excess wax.
Read on to learn about safe home remedies for earwax removal and what to avoid.
Should you clean your ears?
According to a 2018 survey of 206 college-age students, the majority of them used ear cleaning. 75 percent said that exercise is good for their health.
But the point is, you don’t need to clean your earwax. Earwax is not dirt. Earwax plays an important role in lubricating and protecting the ear. It is anti-bacterial and helps reduce the risk of ear infections.
The risks of earwax removal may outweigh the potential benefits. Cleaning earwax with a cotton swab can damage and irritate the ear canal and even puncture the eardrum. When cleaning earwax, be aware that using what you put in your ear can push the earwax deep into your ear, which can lead to earwax blockage over time.
Home remedies to remove earwax
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You can remove earwax at home using baking soda.
Dissolve 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda in 2 ounces of warm water.
If you have a dropper, pour the solution into it.
Tilt your head to the side and pour 5-10 drops of the solution into the ear, 1 drop.
Leave the solution in the ear for up to 1 hour, then rinse with water.
Do this once a day until the earwax is gone. This can happen within two days. Do not do this for more than 2 weeks.
How to remove earwax with hydrogen peroxide
Earwax can be removed at home using 3 percent hydrogen peroxide.
Tilt your head to the side and drip 5-10 drops of hydrogen peroxide into your ear.
Tilt your head to the side for 5 minutes to allow the peroxide to penetrate the wax.
Do this once a day for 3 to 14 days.
Relieve earwax blockage with oil
Earwax is an oil-like substance. Therefore, certain oils can cause the earwax to soften when it comes into contact with the two substances. Proponents of this treatment recommend using the following oils.
baby oil
coconut oil
glycerin
mineral oil
olive oil
Use an ointment to remove earwax:
If desired, slightly warm the selected oil and pour it into a dropper. Do not heat the oil in the microwave. Always check the temperature before placing in the ear.
Tilt your head to the side and put a few drops of oil in your ear.
Tilt your head to the side for 5 minutes.
Repeat once or twice a day.
Irrigation
Sometimes earwax can be removed with low water pressure.
Buy a soft rubber ear cleaning syringe and fill it with warm water.
Tilt your head to one side with a thick towel or bowl under the ear.
Gently squeeze the bulb to allow the warm water to enter your ear.
Allow the water to drain into a towel or container.
You can put it on a cup so you can see if the invisible parts of the ear have fallen off.
Irrigation can be combined with any of the above methods. Irrigate 5-15 minutes after using baking soda, hydrogen peroxide or oil.
In a small trial involving 38 children, pediatricians found that ear irrigation was as effective as scraping earwax with a metal instrument in a clinical setting.
Avoid potentially dangerous home remedies
Although earwax removal is usually safe at home, in some cases it may require the attention of a medical professional. If the above home remedies do not work for you, contact your doctor. Do not use the following to remove earwax.
Small objects. Avoid using small objects like pen caps or bobby pins to clean your ears. Many doctors agree with the old adage, “Never put anything smaller than your elbow in your ear.”
Cotton swab. Although they are safe and perfect for your ears, cotton swabs are too small to be used safely inside the ear and can cause damage.
Ear candles. There is a lot of information about this method, but there are concerns that ear candling can cause injuries such as burns and punctured eardrums.
Taken
If you have an earwax problem, the first thing you should do is see your doctor. They can decide if it’s a condition that needs to be addressed, a symptom of an underlying condition, or something that your body can handle without help.
Being too aggressive in removing wax from your ears can sometimes cause hearing problems, itchiness and pain in the ear canal, and a higher chance of infection. Discuss home treatment ideas when monitoring your concerns with your doctorthe correct course of action for your situation.