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Earwax Remedies

Earwax may be healthy for ears, but too much can be unsightly and unhygienic. There is more than one remedy for earwax buildup; many of which are available in your own home or local supermarket.

  1. Sea Water Ear Spray or Olive Oil

    • No probing device should go inside the ear canal. Try using an ear cleaning spray with sea water or olive oil by placing a few drops in the ear canal and then flushing with water. The ear usually cleans itself so this shouldn't need to be done regularly. Once a week is enough for extreme cases of wax buildup.

    Mineral Oil

    • Ear cleaning is made easier with mineral oil or paraffin oil. By placing 2 tbsp of warmed oil into an eye dropper you can drop the oil into the ear. Turn that ear towards the sky to let the oil seep in for a moment and then release the oil by turning your ear toward a sink. Flush the outside of the ear lightly with water and wipe the outer rim of the ear clean. This method can dissolve the wax completely and help eliminate buildup.

    Irrigating the Ear

    • If mineral oil remedies don't work, irrigating the ear may be a good idea. Place equal parts water and apple cider vinegar into a bowl and suck it into a bulb syringe. The temperature of this mixture should be 38-degrees Celsius. Stand over your sink and tilt the ear to be irrigated toward the sky. Aim the syringe for the back of the opening and gently flush the mixture into the ear. Too much force could damage the ear. Tilt the ear towards the sink to empty out the solution. The solution should have dissolved an stubborn wax still left behind from previous attempts. Cleanse the ear with lukewarm water and towel dry or blow dry the ear on low setting.

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