{"id":154,"date":"2020-01-08T16:37:18","date_gmt":"2020-01-08T22:37:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mwhearing.fm1.dev\/ear\/earwax-removal\/"},"modified":"2020-07-22T17:14:48","modified_gmt":"2020-07-22T22:14:48","slug":"earwax-removal","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/mwent.net\/ent\/ear\/earwax-removal\/","title":{"rendered":"Earwax Removal"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Earwax\n(cerumen) is a yellowish waxy substance produced by healthy ears. Earwax\nprotects the ear from bacteria, water and foreign particles. It also assists in\nthe cleaning and lubrication of the ear canal. Usually, excess wax is removed\nfrom the ear canal naturally. If a buildup does occur, the earwax will become\nhard and block the ear.   <\/p>\n\n\n

Causes\u00a0of Earwax Blockage\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n
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A blockage of earwax is usually caused by an\noverproduction of earwax or insufficient cleaning.  Surprisingly, the most\ncommon cause of a blockage is incorrect at-home earwax removal. Often, instead\nof cleaning out the earwax it is just pushed deeper inside the ear. Earphone and ear plug usage can\nalso cause wax buildup, as the earphones can prevent earwax from naturally\ncoming out of the ear canal.  <\/p>\n\n\n

Symptoms\u00a0of Earwax Blockage\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n

Earaches, a feeling of fullness in the ear, hearing loss\nand ringing in the ear (tinnitus) are all common signs of earwax blockage. If the\nearwax is not removed an infection can develop. This would include severe pain\nin the ear that does not subside and a fever. If you are\nexperiencing any of these symptoms, you should talk to your doctor, as these\nmay also be signs of a more serious condition.  <\/p>\n\n\n

Treatment for Earwax Blockage\u00a0\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n

In order to diagnose a buildup of earwax, your doctor\nwill need to look in your ear with a special magnifying instrument called an\notoscope. Once diagnosed, your doctor can remove the wax buildup a few ways:\nwith a small curved instrument called a curet, through\nsuction or by flushing out the wax using a water pick or warm water. If this\ncontinues to be a problem, wax-removal medications may be recommended.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As long as your ear is healthy and does not have tube or\na hole in it, at-home treatments can be helpful to manage earwax buildup. An\neyedropper can be used to apply a few drops of baby oil, mineral oil or\nhydrogen peroxide into the ear canal; this is done to soften the wax.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once soft, after an hour or a few days, the wax is ready\nto be removed. A rubber-bulb syringe can be used to gently squirt warm water\ninto the ear canal. Once the water has drained out of the ear, the ear should\nbe dried with a towel. This procedure can be repeated several times until the\nwax has been removed.   <\/p>\n\n\n

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