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Ear wax is also known as cerumen in medical terms. It is a waxy yellowish substance that is secreted in the ears. It helps to clean and lubricate our ears and also traps the dirt and dust that blows in but an excess build up of it can block the ears and cause difficulty in hearing.
Ears have a self cleaning mechanism and do not need any other methods to remove the earwax unless there is a problem or the ear wax has been pushed deep inside. The movement of our jaws while talking or chewing facilitates the removal of ear wax. So it's a good idea to practice facial exercises or simply chew gum.
But medical attention might be needed in extreme cases where the ear wax has been pushed deep inside or is blocking the ear passage. A general thing to keep in mind is not to use cotton buds to remove the ear wax. As this only removes a little bit of it from the outer area but most of it gets pushed deeper inside. This could create a partial or total blockage of the ear canal. Besides, using the ear bud in a wrong way could also rupture and damage the delicate eardrums. Use the cotton buds or swabs only on the outer area of the ear.
Irrigation of the ear by squirting warm water with the help of a syringe is the most common way to clean earwax. This can be done at home using a specially designed syringe with a right angle. But if this is not done carefully or if the water pressure is too much, it could damage your ears and cause a lot of pain. It is therefore better to get this procedure performed by a doctor.
If your earwax has hardened then you could try putting a drop of baby oil in each ear once or twice a week to help soften the earwax so the ears can push it out. You could use the irrigation method after this to remove the build up.
You could also soften the ear wax by using warm olive or mineral oil. Put a drop or two of olive or mineral oil in the ear and wait for a few hours before irrigating or scooping out the earwax.
You could also try putting 3 drops of hydrogen peroxide into your ears while tilting your head to one side. Let it work for a few minutes while it bubbles up. Then tilt your head to the other side and let the excess flow out on a cloth or in a basin. After this gently irrigate your ears using a syringe filled with warm water. Do not squirt the water with too fast as the extreme pressure might damage your ears. After you are done cleaning your ears make sure that you dry them thoroughly using a clean cloth.
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