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What should you do? Removal of the earwax plug
If serious symptoms occur, one should not use home remedies, but immediately consult a doctor (ear specialist).
Ear rinsing
The ear specialist uses the irrigation to remove an earwax plug, but this cannot be done in patients with other diseases of the ear, such as perforated eardrum. The ear specialist uses a lukewarm sterile saline solution (37°) and removes the earwax from the ear with a syringe.
Over-the-counter medications
The doctor may recommend instilling drops into the ear to loosen the earwax that soften or “dissolve” the wax, such as:
- dimethylbenzene (cerulisina),
- A product with urea peroxide and glycerin (Debrox ®)
These drugs moisturize and soften the accumulated earwax, but they do not remove the earwax plug.
The ear specialist can remove the earwax plug more easily if he has previously dripped the drops into the ear canal.
Manual removal
Occasionally, the ear doctor uses a special instrument to manually clear out the earwax, for example a special tick with which you can remove the accumulated earwax fragments.
After removal of the earwax plug
After the earwax that has blocked the external auditory canal has been removed, the patient feels a feeling of numbness, because the external sounds now appear to him much more intense.
This happens because the earwax plug interferes with sound transmission, so the amplification system works to the maximum to absorb the weak stimuli.
After removing the obstacle, you have to wait a few minutes for hearing to normalize. During this period, the patient feels increased noise perception.
Natural remedies and home remedies for removing an earwax plug
There are several methods to remove even earwax.
Correct ear cleaning
One should only clean the visible areas of the ear where earwax accumulates and exits.
Washing the outer part of the ear with a cloth can be helpful. You should not use cotton swabs to remove earwax, because you could push the earwax deeper into the ear or cause perforation of the eardrum.
In the emergency room, there are many mothers who have perforated their children’s eardrums with a cotton swab. Cotton swabs should only be used to clean the outer auricle.
Earwax Dissolving Cones
In the pharmacy you can buy paper or wax cones that resemble a candle that you apply and light over the ear.
These ear candles are designed to warm and soften the earwax. The heat generated should suck in the earwax and dissipate it from the ear.
According to doctors, this remedy is not helpful and potentially harmful.
The patient risks serious harm because:
- A few drops of the hot wax can drip into the ear and cause severe burns;
- If the wax drops in the ear cool, they form an even more resistant plug.
Ear rinsing at home
If there are only mild symptoms, you can try to do an ear rinse at home with:
- Boracic lotion
- Olive or almond oil
- Suction bulb
- Cotton balls
- Pipette
- Towel
- Dishes.
The containers of hydrogen peroxide and olive oil should be placed in a bowl of warm water for heating. The temperature of the water and oil should be around 37°, a liquid that is too hot or too cold could cause:
- problems with the inner ear,
- Dizziness.
Procedure
- It is best to stand in front of a sink or bowl.
- Then bend your head to the side so that the ear to be treated faces the ceiling.
- With the pipette, add 2-3 drops of oil to the ear at the beginning.
- In this position, wait a few minutes and then drizzle 2-3 drops of diluted and heated boron water into the same ear.
- In this position you wait until the gargling stops.
- You can put a towel on your shoulder to soak up the liquid flowing out.
- To allow the oil and water solution to flow out of the ear, fill the suction balloon with warm water and bend your head to the side so that the affected ear is above the sink.
- Then bring the tip of the balloon to the ear in about 45° and carefully splash water into the lower ear.
- This allows the loosened earwax to escape from the ear.
- With a soft cloth you dry out the outer ear.
If the earwax is strongly compressed, repeated applications are required.
You can repeat the procedure 2-3 times until the earwax is soft and drains.
Attention!
Do not rinse your ears:
- If the patient has diabetes, because the risk of infection is increased in this patient;
- If the tympanic membrane is perforated; Water and fluid in the middle ear can cause an ear infection;
- In acute or chronic ear infection with severe pain.
Drops for dissolving earwax
Olive and baby oil for the removal of earwax, you can also use domestic oils such as:
- Olive oil
- sweet almond oil,
- Baby oil
- Glicerin.
The procedure is simple:
- Leave a few drops in the ear for a few minutes,
- Then lie down on your side with a towel under your ear and let the oil run out with the softened earwax.
- The oil must be very clean so that it does not cause infection.
Ear drops are indicated only when necessary, otherwise they are not indicated for ear cleaning, because they can cause harm.
If there are problems such as perforation of the eardrum, this method of earwax removal must not be used.
Olive oil can also be used during pregnancy and lactation.
How to clean the ears? Prevention of an earwax plug
To prevent an earwax plug, you should clean the ears correctly.
For cleaning earwax:
- Avoid cotton swabs, car keys and hairpins, as these can damage the eardrum and push the earwax deeper.
- Remove visible earwax that accumulates in the auricle. One can wrap a cloth or tissue around the little finger to clean the outer ear. This should be the only daily method of cleaning for adults and children.
If you work in a dusty environment, you should use protective caps or earplugs to prevent dust from entering your ears.
