Earwax serves important health benefits: It lubricates and cleans the ear canal, picking up bits of dirt, dust, and dead skin that stick to it on the way out. Words of Cautionĭoctors warn against removing ear wax unless symptoms develop (sense of pressure/swooshing, ringing, or roaring in the ears). But if I experienced pain, swelling, or unusual sensations in my ear before or after using this technique, I’d definitely see my doctor. Other times, the wax comes out without any warm-water syringing.įor decades, this technique has worked well for me. Occasionally, I have to repeat the process another evening.
Also avoid using tools like Q-Tips, as they could push the wax deeper into the ear. Sometimes it takes a few swishes of warm water and a few good shakes of the head before the wax ball slides out.ĭon’t use a pressurized device (e.g., a Water Pick) to flush out the wax, as it could damage your eardrum. In the morning, I fill the syringe with warm water and, kneeling in my bathtub, tilt my head sideways and deliver a strong squirt into each ear. I then go to sleep for the night, placing a cotton ball in my ear and a towel on my pillow to absorb any oil leaks. I sterilize the dropper and the syringe in boiling water, warm (to skin temperature) some oil on the stove, and use the eye-dropper to insert a few drops of the warmed oil into each ear, tilting my head to one side to allow the oil to flow down into my ear canal. When I suspect the wax buildup, I get out my gear: Years ago my doctor recommended an olive-oil and warm-water procedure to remove a buildup of earwax safely at home. You should never attempt to dig out earwax buildup yourself. However, you’ll often be able to get rid of the excess earwax yourself. Advertisement Earwax Removal with Olive Oil