Ear irrigation tips & safety advice | Miracle-Ear (2024)

Your hearing health

Last update on Nov, 06, 2024

Earwaxplays a vital role in your ears' overall health and wellness. It lubricates and cleans your ear canal and protects your ears from foreign particles that can make their way in and cause damage.

In some cases, though, you may have too much earwax, or it may become impacted, causing discomfort. Foreign objects regularly worn in the ears—like hearing aids, earbuds or ear plugs—can trigger the overproduction of wax and may intervene with the natural clearing-out process.

If you’re experiencing discomfort resulting from too much or impacted earwax, your provider may recommend ear irrigation, a routine procedure that involves using a liquid-filled syringe to flush excess wax out of the ear canal.

In this article, we will look closer at ear irrigation, how it works, how to do it safely and some risks associated with cleaning your ears.

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Dr. Thomas Tedeschi, Au.D.

Chief Audiology Officer, Miracle-Ear

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What's the purpose of ear irrigation?

The primary purpose of ear irrigation is earwax removal. Too much earwax can cause issues, including:

  • Hearing loss;
  • Headaches;
  • Ringing in the ears (tinnitus);
  • Discomfort or fullness;
  • Reduction in hearing aid functionality;
  • Inability of provider to evaluate your ears.

Removing excess or impacted earwax through irrigation can provide immediate relief from symptoms and allow healthcare providers to examine the ear properly. If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, consult with your provider about whether ear flushing is the right choice for you.

Is ear irrigation safe?

Many people wonder: Is earwax removal safe? What about ear irrigation? It depends. Attempts to remove earwax at home can be safe and effective, but only if done properly. For example, you should never use cotton swabs to remove earwax. Any object inserted into the ear is more likely to push the wax in, adding to impaction. Worse, you could do serious damage to the inside of your ear. Ear irrigation is generally considered safe when done under the supervision of a healthcare provider or when using the proper tools at home.

When to avoid ear irrigation

Whether you opt to flush out your ears at home it’s a good idea to consult with a professional before beginning the process to avoid ear irrigation risks.

You should not undergo ear irrigation if you have a perforated or damaged eardrum or have tubes in your ears. Your doctor may also advise against ear irrigation if you’ve recently had ear surgery, have an active ear infection or have certain immune system disorders.

How to irrigate ears

Ear irrigation can take place at home or in your doctor’s office. While having a doctor or hearing professional clean your ears is the safest method, there are also over-the-counter earwax removal kits you can purchase to perform an at-home ear lavage procedure. To do this, start by loosening the earwax with a few drops of water, saline solution or hydrogen peroxide.You can do this by soaking a cotton ball and allowing the drops to fall into your ear. Keep your head tilted while the drops have a chance to work, then turn your head to the other side and let the liquid and wax fall out. If the wax is not coming out on its own, try loosening the wax with mineral oil, baby oil or commercial ear drops.

If you’ve been given the okay by your provider and want to try ear irrigation at home, there are a few important things to remember:

  • Never try to dig out earwax with an object like a cotton swab;
  • Use room or tepid temperature water. Cold or hot water can induce vertigo;
  • Do not put anything in your ear if you have an ear infection, a damaged eardrum or have been advised against at-home irrigation by your doctor;
  • Never insert the syringe into the ear canal. Instead, stay near the opening;
  • Don’t use forceful pressure when squirting water into the ear;
  • Stop if you feel pain, pressure, or dizziness.

A safer and often more effective method is to receive ear irrigation at your doctor’s office. Your provider will have specialized tools and expertise in flushing out excess wax from your ears. Ear irrigation procedures typically take only a few minutes.

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Risks and complications

While ear irrigation is generally considered safe, there are risks. One survey found complications occurred in about 1 in 1,000 ears irrigated.Common ear flushing side effects include:

  • Vertigo or dizziness;
  • Ringing in the ears;
  • Ear canal tenderness.

You may not experience any earwax removal side effects, but if you do, be sure to let your doctor know, especially if they don’t go away or get worse.

Ear infection

Can cleaning ears cause infection? Yes, depending on the condition of your ears and the method you choose to clean them.

  • If the equipment or water used for ear irrigation is not sterile, you may introduce bacteria into your ear canal, which could lead to an infection;
  • Using too much force or performing ear irrigation improperly can damage the delicate skin of the ear canal. This damage can create entry points for bacteria, increasing the risk of infection;
  • If water remains in the ear after irrigation, it can create a moist environment that promotes bacterial growth. This can lead to otitis externa, or swimmer’s ear.

If you feel pain or discomfort and suspect you may have an ear infection after irrigation, make an appointment with your doctor right away.

Perforated eardrum

When attempting at-home earwax removal, perforated eardrums can occur due to improper technique. Using too much force or pointing the stream of water directly toward the back of the ear rather than along the canal walls can cause damage to the eardrum.

Other complications

Other problems after ear syringing include vertigo or dizziness, ear pain, nausea and hearing difficulties. In some cases, ear irrigation may not clear wax from the ears and may even cause impacted wax to lodge deeper into the ear.

Home remedies for earwax removal

If your hearing care provider has told you that you may attempt earwax removal at home, below are some techniques you can try.

Natural oils

Mineral oil for earwax and olive oil for earwax are both common home remedies for loosening impacted wax. The oils may be enough to dislodge wax and allow it to drain, or these oils can be used to soften wax and make ear irrigation more effective.

Saline

Salty water or saline can help loosen wax and, when used in a syringe, it can assist in the irrigation process. Make sure to use sterile water, not tap water, to flush your ear with saline.

Ear drops

Ear drops for earwax can help soften and dissolve earwax to make it easier to remove. Medicated ear drops can be more effective for stubborn or impacted earwax compared to non-medicated options.

Hydrogen peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide for earwax can also be effective in loosening impacted wax to help with the flushing process.

Ear candling

Earwax candles are cones made from fabric and soaked in wax that claim to draw out impurities from the ear.Is ear candling safe? The short answer is no. The Food and Drug Administration has called the practice “ineffective and risky.” The practice can cause burns, perforated eardrums, infections and even hearing loss. So, it’s best to skip this home remedy.

A note on infant ear irrigation

Ear irrigation tips & safety advice | Miracle-Ear (3)

Wondering how to clean infant ears? Beyond wiping the outer ear with a cloth daily, leave them aloneAttempts at infant earwax removal can cause significant damage to delicate, developing ears. If you are concerned about your infant having too much earwax, consult with your pediatrician and leave any cleaning procedures to the professionals.

When to see a doctor

Earwax removal is a common practice for ENT specialists. In fact, about 150,000 earwax removalstake place each week in the U.S. If you’re experiencing symptoms associated with too much earwax, seek out advice from your doctor.

If you’ve tried ear irrigation, ear flushing or cleaning earwax at home and are experiencing new or worsening ear pain, ringing or hearing loss, seek treatment immediately. Questions about ear irrigation or ear health? Consult with a Miracle-Ear hearing care professional today to ensure your ears are healthy and clear.

Ear irrigation tips & safety advice | Miracle-Ear (4)

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Sources

1. Wright T. “Ear wax.” BMJ Clin Evid. 2015 Mar 4;2015:0504. PMID: 25738938; PMCID: PMC4356173. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4356173/

2. "How to Avoid Earwax Buildup with Hearing Aids." San Francisco Audiology. Posted May 19, 2022. Accessed October 1, 2024. https://sfaudiology.com/how-to-avoid-earwax-buildup-with-hearing-aids/

3. "Got an Ear Full? Here's Some Advice for Ear Wax Removal." Harvard Health Publishing. Accessed October 1, 2024. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4356173/

4. Schumann, J. A., Toscano, M. L., & Pfleghaar, N. "Ear Irrigation." StatPearls [Internet]. Last updated September 26, 2022. Accessed October 1, 2024. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459335/

5. Sharp JF, Wilson JA, Ross L, Barr-Hamilton RM. “Ear wax removal: a survey of current practice.” BMJ. 1990 Dec 1;301(6763):1251-3. doi: 10.1136/bmj.301.6763.1251. PMID: 2271824; PMCID: PMC1664378. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1664378/

6. "Ear Candles: Ineffective and Risky." AAP News, vol. 31, no. 4, 2010, p. 26. Accessed October 1, 2024. https://publications.aap.org/aapnews/article/31/4/26/23708/Ear-candles

7. "Everything You Need to Know About Earwax." Children's Mercy. Published April 2022. Accessed October 1, 2024. https://www.childrensmercy.org/parent-ish/2022/04/earwax/

8. Grossan M. Cerumen removal--current challenges. Ear Nose Throat J. 1998 Jul;77(7):541-6, 548. PMID: 9693470. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9693470/

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