How to Clear a Clogged Ear

Occasionally, especially during a sudden change in air pressure (such as when traveling by plane or scuba diving), your ears may become blocked or feel full when the eustachian tube is blocked. The eustachian tube is the part that connects the middle ear to the throat, which helps to drain fluid and controls the pressure level in the ear. ^{[1] X Research Source} If you have discomfort in your ears, see step 1 below for how to relieve this.

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Clear ears quickly

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Open your mouth and yawn. Open your mouth wide like when you want to say “Aaaa..” and try to yawn. Continue to slowly open your mouth in an “O” shape until you have fully yawned.

Stop yawning when you feel your ears are open. Repeat if the first yawn doesn’t work. You will know when the pressure equalizes again. Not only can you hear and feel the “bang” sound, you will suddenly feel much better when your ears are open.
Tilt your head back and push your jaw forward. Look up to the sky so that the eustachian tube is in the correct position. The forward thrust of the jaw can help you yawn and open the eustachian tube, while reducing pressure.

Chewing gum. If yawning doesn’t help, then chewing gum, even simulating chewing movements can help. The chewing motion helps to balance the pressure inside and outside the ear. Like yawning, chewing can be used as a preventative measure. Start chewing on a stick of gum when you know you’re about to deal with a change in altitude to prevent ear blockages.

Chew a large stick of gum. We’re talking about Bubblicious, not Stride. The chewing movement should be loud enough to open the throat and equalize the pressure in the ears. If there’s nothing to chew, you can do a sham chewing, as if you were taking a bite too big to chew, literally.

Sucking on hard candy or lozenges. Similar to chewing gum, sucking on a hard candy, mint lozenge or any other lozenge can help equalize the pressure. Don’t chew – this is not candy! – but sucking on the candy for a while to create a pressure effect.

Drink a large glass of water. Drinking water is a combination of many effective techniques mentioned above in one movement. Pour yourself a large glass of water, tilt your head back to adjust the position of the Eustachian tube, and take a large sip to help equalize the pressure in your ear. If done correctly, you will feel clear and less uncomfortable.

If there is water in the ear, be very careful to apply pressure with your fingers. When you step out of the water and feel uncomfortable with the feeling of water pressure, you can use gravity by bending to the side so that the clogged ear is parallel to the ground. Place a finger over your ear – not inside your ear – repeatedly pressing and releasing it – like unclogging a toilet with pressure. This movement can help change the pressure in the ear and unclog the ear, or change the pressure enough to drain the water out of the ear.

Never put your fingers in your ears. Your aim isn’t trying to get the water out, you’re just trying to change the pressure. Sticking your finger deep inside the ear can damage your hearing.

Reduce congestion

Don’t hesitate to call your doctor. If your ears are constantly blocked, you may have a more serious problem with your sinuses, causing persistent inflammation. You need to see a doctor; Your doctor may suggest that you take over-the-counter pain relievers, nasal sprays, or antibiotics. ^{[2] X Research Resources} Meanwhile, you can take steps to reduce ear pain or inflammation.

Buy earplugs with a doctor’s prescription. If you still can’t get your ears open, talk to your doctor about a hearing aid. This device helps to balance the pressure inside and outside the eardrum, so that the ear is open. Although it is expensive and requires a prescription, your doctor can prescribe it because of its effectiveness.

Wash your sinuses regularly. If the sinuses are blocked due to the flu or allergies, the ears can also become blocked and out of balance. To cure this condition, you need to treat a blocked sinus with gentle and frequent sinus washes with warm salt water. Using a sinus rinse as directed is a safe and effective method, but you need to remember to keep it clean and use it correctly to avoid infection and other complications. ^{[3] X Trusted Source US Food and Drug Administration Go to source}

Nasal irrigation bottles are widely used and can be washed with distilled water mixed with a little salt. Tilt your head over the sink, pouring water into one nostril so that it flows through the sinuses and out the other nostril. Rinsing the nose can be difficult for the first time, but it really does ease the stuffy sinuses.
If the sinuses are very congested and cannot be treated with water, varying the pressure may still be enough to relieve the blockage and reduce the sensation of blockage in the ear. This is well worth a try.
Remember to clean the nasal irrigation bottle after each use and only use distilled or sterile water to avoid introducing harmful bacteria into the body.

Take an antihistamine or decongestant before symptoms get worse. You should take the initiative to protect yourself from sinus congestion and ear congestion. If you have frequent sinus problems, don’t wait until it’s too painful and you feel pressure in your ears to try to clear your ears. Try to prevent it first by treating sinus problems with over-the-counter medications.

Soak in a warm bath filled with warm water. If you are sick and want to clear your ears, get into a warm bath, lie down, and submerge your ears. Tilt your chin back and swallow hard a few times to see if you can clear your ears this way. The change in pressure can help balance the ears, and the hot steam can also help relieve a stuffy nose. After stepping out of the tub and still feeling congested, bend over so that your ears are parallel to the ground and apply pressure with your fingers as described above.

Blow your nose gently. In essence, blowing your nose is like a version of the Valsalva maneuver, but with the added benefit of helping to relieve nasal congestion. Cover one nostril with a tissue and gently blow the other nostril. This helps equalize the pressure in the ear.

The important thing is to be gentle. Blowing your nose too hard can make the condition worse, pushing the blockage into the ear canal and making you feel more blocked. You need to be gentle.

Use home remedies

Gargle with hot salt water. Try to use water as hot as you can tolerate without burning your mouth. ^{[4] X Research Source} Add a teaspoon of salt to a glass of water and stir. Gargle several times, resting for 1 minute after each rinse. Rinse out the glass of water and rest for at least 30 minutes before trying again.

Try a decongestant with a mixture of vinegar and alcohol. If you think the pressure in your ears is caused by a buildup of earwax, it may be helpful to clear your ears first and then try following the suggestions in this article. Here’s how to do it:

Mix vinegar and 70% isopropyl alcohol in equal proportions. This solution will loosen the earwax and help prevent the ear from becoming clogged.
Gently tilt your head to one side and put a few drops of the vinegar solution in your ear using a medical dropper.
Keep your head tilted for a moment, then return to the original position. You can feel the vinegar solution running down and out of your ear. Repeat with the other ear.
Rinse the ear with a little water. Although the vinegar solution will evaporate thanks to the alcohol, rinsing with water is still a good idea. Tilt your head to the side, use a dropper to put a few drops of water in your ear, then tilt your ear down to let the water out.

Eat something very spicy, such as jalapeno peppers. Chili doesn’t have a very pleasant taste, but it certainly does make mucus come out (chili are well known for reducing mucus build-up). Blow your nose and move your jaw when the mucus starts to flow. You can hear explosions in your ears. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

Try craniosacral therapy. Developed in the first year of the 20th century, spinal relaxation therapy aims to rebalance the “natural rhythms of cerebrospinal circulation”. Although widely used for many disorders, this therapy can be helpful in correcting the pressure imbalance in the eustachian tube that causes the ear to become blocked.

Many people believe that spinal relaxation therapy is unproven. ^{[6] X Research Source} However, if you need an alternative, there’s no harm in trying it out.

Try acupuncture therapy. Acupuncture can be used to treat everything from plantar fascia pain to jaw stiffness and even ear infections. Go to an acupuncturist and tell them your problem if you’ve tried all the tips in this article and it still doesn’t clear your ears.

Advice

Frozen foods can help. For example, you could try ice cream or frozen yogurt.
Yawning, even shouting, helps.
Gently pull the tip of the ear and rotate it.
Swallowing is also helpful. Chewing gum makes this much easier by stimulating saliva production.
Yawn and use the Valsalva maneuver (close your nose and gently exhale through your nose).
Gently breathe through your nose while keeping your nose closed. Be careful not to breathe too hard, otherwise undesirable effects may occur.
If you constantly have blocked ears or hear muffled sounds (only you hear muffled), it could be a sign of sinusitis or a sinus infection.
Concentrate a lot of saliva in your mouth and swallow, even though it sounds awful. This may or may not help.

Steps

Clear ears quickly

Reduce congestion

Use home remedies

Advice

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