How to Relieve Ear Pain

Ear pain is sometimes referred to as an otalgia or an earache. Ear pain can be referred to as sharp, dull or burning and may be temporary or constant in nature. There are many possible causes of ear pain, such as fluid buildup in the middle ear, infection, a cold, allergies, injury, arthritis or temporomandibular joint syndrome (TMJ). Aside from seeing a doctor, there are measures that can be taken at home to help relieve ear pain.

Things You'll Need

• Wet wash cloth Chewing gum Ear drops or olive oil Over-the-counter pain reliever (i.e., Tylenol or Advil)

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Instructions

• 1

  Apply a wet wash cloth to the outside of the ear for 20 minutes at a time.

• 2

  Chew gum to help relieve pain and pressure secondary to an ear infection.

• 3

  Apply ear drops or olive oil to the ear. The doctor may also prescribe prescription ear drops.

• 4

  Take over-the-counter pain relievers such as Tylenol or Advil.

• 5

  Sit upright if the pressure is worse when lying down.