Ear wax forms a layer of lubrication in the ear canal and helps in the maintenance of the normal functioning of the ear. However, excessive ear wax can make you feel uncomfortable. Furthermore, excess wax can get stuck into the ear affecting your normal routine.
This makes the removal of the ear wax mandatory to enjoy your life to the full, right? At times, you might use a cotton bud to remove this wax but it pushes the wax deeper into the ear canal adding to the discomfort.
Therefore, let us discuss the safe methods to get rid of earwax with this informative article on “ear wax stuck in the ear? Here is how to fix it.”
Why is Ear Wax Stuck in the Ear?
Ear wax can get stuck in the ears for several reasons and has many risk factors. Before going to the details of how to fix the wax stuck in your ears, how about we learn a little about ear wax, its functions, symptoms, and risk factors?
Ear Wax and its Function
Ear wax is a natural substance that is produced by the glands in the ear. In addition to the cerumen production by the glands in the ear, sweat, moisture, dead skin cells, natural oils produced by the skin, and some dust particles also get into it. The normal ear wax can be of a variety of colors including pale, yellow, light orange, and brown depending upon the formulation and age of the wax.
The major function of wax is to protect your ear. It does so by forming a layer of lubrication on the delicate ear canal. Ear wax catches the impurities from the environment, warms up the air entering the ear, and repels microbes and insects.
6 Signs and Symptoms of Ear Wax Being Stuck in the Ears
Here is how you can know if the wax is stuck in your ears.
- Impairment of Hearing: Sound gets into the ear from the air in the form of waves. These sound waves cause the vibration of the tympanic membrane to be perceived as audio in your brain. When the wax is stuck in the ears, this pathway is disrupted resulting in reduced or impaired hearing.
- Pain in the Ears: Our ear is a highly sensitive organ with many nerves that can be triggered by excessive ear wax. The stimulation of such nerves causes pain in the ear.
- Discomfort in the Ears: A sensation of discomfort is one of the commonest symptoms of earwax impaction.
- Feeling of Fullness: When excessive wax is present in your ear, it creates a sensation of pressure and fullness in the ear canal.
- Dizziness and Tinnitus: Impaitement of the functions of the inner ear causes dizziness and tinnitus.
- Ear Discharge: The chances of infection increase with stuck earwax and it can cause ear discharge.
Also, remember that most patients get the symptoms in one ear.
Factors that can Lead to Ear Wax Becoming Stuck in the Ear Canal
Here are some causes and risk factors of earwax becoming stuck in the ears.
- Size of ear canal: Anatomically narrow ear canals are prone to ear wax blockage
- Presence of hair in the ears: The presence of excessive, thick, or coarse hair in the ear reduces removal of ear wax
- Use of foreign bodies: Trying to use Q-tips and other foreign bodies to remove the wax and push them deeply inside
- The amount of wax in the ears: Excessive production or reduced removal of the earwax increases the amount of wax in the ears and thus the chances of its impaction
- Unclean ears: Failure to maintain hygeine of the ears causes buildup of the wax in the ears
How to Fix Ear Wax Stuck in the Ear? (4 Ways)
Although some factors like unhygienic conditions and the use of Q-tips can be controlled, factors like anatomy and physiology of ear wax production cannot be prevented.
Thus, here is how you can fix ear wax stuck in the ear seamlessly.
#1. Softening the Ear Wax Naturally
It is likely that the wax stuck in your ears dry, hard, and impacted deep in the ear canal. Removal of such wax can be a tough job. Therefore, use ear softening drops to make the removal of stuck ear wax safe and gentle.
For this, you need ear-softening drops that include,
- Commercially available over-the-counter ear drops or sprays
- Homemade solution of hydrogen peroxide
- Oils available at home like coconut oil, olive oil, mustard oil, and mineral oil
- Other solutions like glycerine and saline
Once you get the ear-softening drops of your choice, the next thing is to put a few in the affected ear and keep your head tilted for 2 to 3 minutes.
It is important to put drops twice or thrice every day for at least 5 to 7 days to allow the hard ear wax to soften. When the wax is soft, its removal becomes easy.
#2. Flushing the Ear with Warm Water
Irrigation of the ear canal is another home remedy that removes the wax stuck in the ear. This remedy serves as a safe and effective alternative to using cotton buds or ear candles. For flushing the ear with warm water, all you need is,
- A rubber syringe to flush the ear
- A bowl of warm water to fill the rubber syringe
- A towel to prevent mess caused by ear flushing
After getting your essentials, follow the steps given below to get rid of the wax stuck in the ears.
- Take the rubber syringe and put warm water in it
- Keep the towel on your shoulders
- Go to a basin or sink
- Move the head with the wax toward the shoulder
- Take your syringe and infuse a stream of water inside the ear
- Let the excess water flow out of the ear
- Repeat the process till you see wax coming out of the ear
#3. Remove Ear Wax with the Bebird Ear Wax Removal Kit
When the wax is deeply stuck in the ear or is stuck at a specific place, you something to look into the ear to fix it. Professionals use otoscopes for this purpose. However, professional ear wax removal can be expensive.
Therefore, the ear wax camera can be used for professional-grade ear wax removal at home. It comes with a spoon and tweezers along with a 10 MP camera that allows you to fix the wax stuck in the ears under visual guidance.
You can do so by following the steps given below,
- Setup the bebird ear wax removal camera
- Turn on your mobile app
- Put the tweezers inside the ears and remove the wax
#4. Manual Removal by an Ear Specialist (ENT)
If you prefer professional ear wax removal instead of home remedies, manual removal by an ear wax specialist can help you. ENT specialists use an otoscope to examine the ear and then remove the ear wax manually by,
- Curettes or ear spoons
- Irrigation of the ear canal
- Suction of the ear canal
Conclusion
Wax can become stuck in your ear at times, especially in the summer season, and make your ears itch and you feel uncomfortable throughout the ear. Not only does it distract you from your routine tasks but also increases the chances of ear infection.
Therefore, it is important to fix the stuck ear wax. You can do so by both home remedies like Bebird ear wax removal cameras and professional treatments.
Beth is Cloudmineinc’s senior health editor and a certified personal trainer. She has over 10 years experience as a science journalist and is the author of two books. She deadlifts over 315 lbs.