How to get rid of ear wax

You may not always need to remove your ear wax. However, if buildup does occur, be sure to use the safest methods to get rid of ear wax so you do not damage your ear.

Dear Dr. Manny,

I have a hard time hearing and I think I might have too much wax in my ears? How do I get rid of it? What is impacted ear wax? What causes ear wax buildup? Do foods cause ear wax?

Thanks for your question.

Most of the time, you probably don’t need to get rid of earwax. In fact, ear wax is the body’s way of preventing bacteria from collecting inside the ear.

WHAT IS ADENOVIRUS?

Occasionally, people get excessive ear wax. Then, it’s time to get rid of it. Only 5 percent of people will have too much wax in their ears. If this is the case, then you need to get rid of it. But you must do so in a safe fashion, so as not to damage your ear.

Ears are delicate organs with complex systems for hearing, balance, and prevention of infection. It's best to proceed with the advice of a doctor or a medical professional.

Since you can’t really see in your ears, a machine is needed to help spot if you have a blockage in your ear caused by wax. Don’t use q-tips to clear out the wax, and please, don’t ever try ear candling. Both of these tactics cause damage to the ear canal.

IS A CANKER SORE CAUSING YOUR MOUTH PAIN?

You need to have an intact eardrum in order to safely remove blockages. Otherwise, whatever is used might end up in your inner ear, harming your hearing and your balance. Over the counter ear wax removal kits, and solutions like Debrox, work very well to remove ear wax safely and quickly.

A doctor can also remove the wax with irrigation or curettes.

Ear wax build-up is caused by bony blockages, swimmers’ ear or other infections, skin disease, an autoimmune disorder, a narrowed ear canal, or making too much ear wax due to injury. People with hearing aids are at higher risk for impacted ear wax.

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If you have hearing loss, itchy ear, earache, feel like your ear is full, dizziness, ringing in your ears, or a cough, you might have impacted ear wax.

If you use headphones or earplugs, your ears will have excessive wax buildup. If you use cotton swabs, bobby pins, or other objects to try to get the wax out, then you are at greater risk for impaction. You might push it further into your ear.

Most food does not cause ear wax buildup, but if you have Celiac disease or an autoimmune reaction to certain foods, the inflammation caused by the reaction can build up excessive ear wax.

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If you are having problems with ear wax, consult a doctor before doing anything about it. You don’t want to damage your ear. A medical professional can help come up with a plan for treatment to remove the wax and prevent the buildups in the future.

Do you have a health question for Dr. Manny? Email us at AskDrManny@FoxNews.com

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