What can be done to remove wax build up out or your ears.?

Question

I suffer with wax build up in my right ear. This happens every 2-3 months. Could it be, because I sleep on that side? What can I do to resolve this.

Answer 1

Ear wax is a normal product of the ear which protects the skin of the ear from water and infection. Ear wax is formed from wax glands in the external ear canal as well as other components such as dead skin, sweat, and oil. The primary component of ear wax is keratin (derived from dead skin). Ear wax thus differs slightly from cerumen which is the secretory product of the ceruminous glands in the external auditory canal (Hawke, 2002).

Different individuals vary considerably in the amount and consistency of their ear wax. There are two types described, wet and dry, which are inherited. Dry wax is common in Asia, while wet wax is common in western Europe. Dry wax, also known as "rice-bran wax", contains by weight about 20% lipid (fat).
Wet wax consists of approximately 50% lipid.
Wet wax can be either soft or hard, the hard wax being more likely to be impacted. While ear wax is generally simply felt to be a nuisance.

Too little ear wax increases the risk of infection.

Too much wax also increases the incidence of infection and hearing loss. So, you want just enough.

Some people (and some ears) are "wax producers", and others remain wax free without much maintenence.

What can go wrong with ear wax ?
Wax can plug up the ear, causing hearing to be reduced, and a full feeling in the ear
Wax can trap bacteria in the ear, leading to infection. This is usually painful or at least itchy.
Ear wax can obscure vision when the doctor looks in your ears, possibly hiding a dangerous process.


Ear wax naturally dries up and forms little balls that drop out when we yawn, chew or swallow so i guess it can have different effect depending on what side you sleep on.

First, one should realize that wax isn't all that bad. It keeps your ear dry and helps prevent infection. So, you don't want to eliminate wax, but just keep it from blocking your ear.

How can one keep wax from blocking the ear ? There are several methods.

One method is to put baby oil or olive oil into the ear on a regular basis. Put in the drops, let it sit in there for a few minutes, then lie down on a towel to let it drip out again. Probably only a few drops every week in each ear is good enough.
It doesn't hurt to put a few drops of clean olive oil or baby oil into each ear every day. Swimmers often do this prior to their daily swim. However, be sure that the oil is clean, as you don't want to introduce bacteria.
This should not be done if you have an eardrum perforation or if you don't know whether or not you have a perforation.

Another method is to have your ear cleaned out by your doctor on a regular basis. Everyone builds up wax at their own rate

You can remove earwax at home with wax-softening ear drops that you can buy without a prescription.
To insert the ear drops:
Lie down with the affected ear pointed toward the ceiling.
Put 2 or 3 drops into the ear, plug it with cotton, and wait 20 minutes.
Using a soft rubber bulb syringe, squirt warm water gently into the ear canal several times to wash out the earwax.
Do not try to remove earwax with a stick or cotton swab. This can damage the eardrum or cause an infection in the ear canal.
If you work in a dusty area, wear earplugs to help keep your ear canals clean.

Call Your Doctor If...
You get pain in your ear.
You develop a high temperature.

Answer 2

Wax Build Up

Answer 3

Go to your doctor first before you buy anything to put into your ear. It may not be wax that needs to be removed. Sometimes the wax builds up because of a inter ear problem not a ear ache.

Answer 4

I have been to my doctor now several times about my ears getting clogged he just always says it's due to allergies, he also said that my one ear has wax buildup and he wont tell me what I can do about it. It just drives me crazy. Most of the times I can pop them by plugging my nose and blow and then they will open up, but it doesn't work all the time. I will try this over-the-counter was remover and see if it works, if it doesn't I might have to make an appointment with an ENT

Answer 5

I went to my Doctor recently regarding another problem and before he left the room I asked him about my left ear. I told him it was stopped up and it sounded like I had an "alka-seltzer" in my head. He got the nurse to come in and rinse my ear out. It felt so good I couldn't believe it. This happens about every five years. He told me to go to the drug store and get an ear wash and use it about one per month as he does. Cotton swabs will not work if the wax is attached to the ear-drum. I have had the wax removed with forseps, as the wax was attached to the eardrum. The worse pain that I have ever experienced is an ear infection that I got while skin-diving in Florida. It was a fungus, and what came out of my ear, you don't want to know.

Answer 6

There is a product called an "ear candle". You can usually find them at health food stores and some chiropractors keep them around. What it does it literally sucks the wax out of your ear canal. I was in awe at how much wax was inside there the first time I used one of these. They usually cost about $3 or $4. It really clears your head up.

Answer 7

You hadn't mentioned if you listen to loud music,or work in a noisy invirnment. NEVER put Q-Tips inside your ears.. I use Q-Tips myself but never fully insert them, that can dammage an ear drum and you will have more problems then you need. The rule of thumb is. Never put anything smaller then your elbow in your ears!!

With that said, you can (my ex did) go to the doctor and get them cleaned out. what he will do is pour water in them and drain them right in the office. Then look out LOL.. cause you will hear like you never heard before.. you will hear EVERYTHING :)

Answer 8

You should clean your ears when you brush your teeth each morning. Use warm water if it is really bad to loosen it up,

Answer 9

no. this happens because our bodies natually make wax so that if anything tries to get in our ear it won't be able to get to the ear drum itself. that's the way God made our bodies. neat? so all you have to do is get a q-tip and clean your ears out. it's a good thing when your ears build wax. that's what it's supposed to do.