You may have experienced that uncomfortable feeling of having water in your ear before, and you know it can be a painful situation. There are many causes for water getting in the ear, including bathing or swimming with your head submerged, being exposed to excessive moisture, misusing a Q-tip, or shaking too vigorously while drying off after a bath or shower. The most common symptom this might cause is hearing loss due to fluid buildup in the ear that blocks sound waves from reaching the inner ear. There is also pain and pressure along with itchy ears because of inflammation caused by excess fluids collecting in this area. Continue reading to find some ways to get the water out!
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Tilting & Shaking
One super simple technique that may be helpful is tilting your head so that you are looking up at the ceiling then shaking your head back and forth vigorously as though trying to nod “yes.” Be sure not to try this too much to avoid injuring yourself. Also, make sure you don’t tilt your head back for too long as this may drain the fluid into your throat, which would cause even more discomfort.
Yawning
Another simple technique that you might find helpful is yawning. When you are awake, your Eustachian tube, located in the ear, expands and contracts to open and close when necessary. While this may bring temporary relief with water in your ear, it may cause excess fluids to drain down into your throat if not done correctly. It would be good practice to swallow while yawning so that you don’t end up with fluid in your throat.
Blow Dryer
One way to get water out of your ear is to use a blow dryer. The solution for this technique is relatively easy; you only need to tilt your head to one side and hold the dryer at a distance of two inches with the nozzle pointed towards the ear canal. The air will enter the canal and will help to push out any fluid that has accumulated. Be sure to keep the dryer on as low of a setting as possible because blowing hot air inside the ear canal can be very irritating and painful.
Gravity & Syringe
The first way to remove water from your ear is to use gravity. Just tilt your head and lean it over a sink, then allow the water to flow out without much force. You can also use a syringe, as this will work with gravity, and it is more successful if you have excessive earwax buildup. A syringe is a tool that helps you gently inject water into the ear canal. The water will then be gently forced back out from behind any blockage, thanks to gravity. By using this method, you shouldn’t experience pain or irritation around the ear canal area.
Olive & Mineral Oil
Another option for getting water out of your ear is filling the canal with olive oil or mineral oil. Using these options will not cause pain and irritation because the oils are soft and easy to rinse out after being in the ear canal for a few minutes.
If you have an excess of water in your ears, this method will also help relieve some of the pressure built up in your ears. The healing process can be sped up when using this technique since it helps with inflammation around the ear canal area. Oil will not clog pores or cause any contact dermatitis, so it’s very safe to use!
Over-The-Counter Ear Drops
Lastly, if you have a fever or the water in your ear has been there for more than ten days, you can use an over-the-counter ear drop. The ear drop that you choose should contain sodium bicarbonate, which will eliminate the excess fluid in your ear. Never attempt to use this method if you have a hole in your eardrum, pressure or pain around the ear canal, any kind of infection (swimmer’s ear), or any ruptured blood vessels because it may sting when it comes into contact with these areas.
Conclusion
If you’re struggling with water in your ear, there are many options to help get it out. The methods listed here will work for most people without draining their bank account. If none of these techniques seem like a good fit for you, or if they don’t solve the problem altogether, speak with a doctor about what you can do next!
