Ear Drops for Ear Wax Removal: How it Works

One of the first choices that you’ll learn about when looking to find ways of unblocking your ears is to use a variety of off-the-shelf ear drops. Most commonly, these are olive oil ear drops–simply ordinary olive oil dripped into the ear canal with a special applicator. Sodium bicarbonate and hydrogen peroxide drops are also available, working on the same principle.

What these drops do is soften hardened ear wax so that the ear canal will become unblocked. At Ear Wax Solution, we have worked with many patients who have had varying levels of success with these drops. We will look at how these drops work, and ultimately whether they are a real solution to the problems of blocked ears and impacted ear wax.

At our main clinic in Horley, we use microsuction for the gentle removal of even the most stubborn ear wax.

Why Are My Ears Blocked?

Have you found your hearing suddenly hindered? Do your ears feel full and blocked? Can you hear a faint ringing sound, without an external source? All of these are common symptoms of blocked ears. There can be multiple causes for this sensation, but overwhelmingly the most common reason is excessive ear wax. We all produce ear wax at different rates, and naturally, it’s important for lubricating our ears and keeping them clean. But when you produce too much, it can gradually harden, become impacted, and ultimately block your ears.

How can you treat blocked ears?

Treating Blocked Ears: Olive Oil Ear Drops

If you have experienced ongoing issues with blocked ears, olive oil ear drops are often advised as one of the most easily accessible solutions. As we mentioned, you can walk into almost any supermarket and find olive oil and sodium bicarbonate ear drops. How does the treatment method work?

Olive oil is dripped into the ears slowly via the product’s applicator, while you are lying on your side. This olive oil then gradually drips down through the ear canal, where it reaches, and over time softens your ear wax.
Results will not be instantaneous. It may take several hours, but eventually you can find that the olive oil drops have softened the impacted ear wax enough that it has moved and the blockage is cleared.

Unfortunately, what many of our patients find is that olive oil ear drops provide only temporary relief for their symptoms. Olive oil alone is enough only to dislodge the ear wax for a short time before it ultimately dries out and becomes impacted again. This can be as brief as a matter of days.

Medicated Ear Drops

There are also other forms of ear drops which you can find on shop shelves. These include sodium bicarbonate-based drops as well as hydrogen peroxide products. Often, these are presented as a more specifically medicated solution to treat especially stubborn ear wax build-up. Naturally, these are significantly stronger chemicals, and in many cases can cause greater problems than they solve. They can irritate the very sensitive skin of the inner ear, and should never be used if you have an active inner ear infection. Dissolved ear wax can also end up slipping further down into the ear canal.

Microsuction Ear Wax Removal

Ear drops, then, are a temporary solution to a more permanent problem. In cases of very minor impacting, olive oil ear drops alone may be enough to move the ear wax out of your ears. At Ear Wax Solution, we can offer a simple, easy, affordable treatment to completely remove impacted ear wax. Whether through a home visit or at our clinic in Horley, a specialist will apply gentle suction to your ear to remove impacted wax–providing instant relief and protecting your ears from long-term damage.

But that is not to say ear drops don’t have a part to play–they can be a great way to prepare for your appointment.

Best Ear Wax Removal Drops

While it’s not a completely necessary part of the process, using olive oil ear drops for 2-3 days before your appointment can make it a lot easier to remove the impacted wax. Microsuction is already an entirely painless and risk-free procedure. But olive oil ear drops can be useful for this reason. We would generally advise against the use of hydrogen peroxide or sodium bicarbonate-based drops–opt for microsuction and olive oil drops instead.

Contact Us: Book Your Appointment Today

If you have any questions about what we do or would like to arrange an appointment, contact us today. You can visit us at our main clinic in Horley, while we also have locations in East Grinstead and Epsom. We provide home visit ear wax removal across London–get in touch to find out more.

Book Now