How To Get Water Out Of Your Ear That Won’t Come Out
Summer fun often leads to little waterlogged ears, so we asked a doctor for advice.
Whether or not your little one is a water baby or a swimmer, pretty much everyone deals with water getting trapped in their ears at some point. Sure, it can come from a deep plunge in the pool, a tumble in the waves at the beach, or horsing around at the lake. But it can also come from something as simple as showering off after a long day in the surf or splish-splashing in the bathtub.
Anyone who’s experienced it knows that it’s not too bad at first. However, it can be frustrating and downright uncomfortable when the water doesn’t immediately come out. When water gets trapped in your ear, you experience a tickling sensation, which you may feel in your jawbone and throat, too. It can also affect your hearing, either muffling sounds or causing trouble hearing.
In most cases, the water will naturally drain on its own. Sometimes, though, it doesn’t, and that trapped water can lead to an ear infection in the external auditory canal, otherwise known as swimmer’s ear. The trapped water could also lead to a bacterial or fungal infection, which is obviously something no one wants. You want to get that water out of your ear or your child’s ear as soon as possible!
To avoid any infection and the annoying muffled sounds, Scary Mommy asked Jennie Stanford, M.D., FAAFP, DipABOM, a double-board-certified physician and medical contributor for Drugwatch, to share a few easy ways to get water out of the ears safely.
Will Water Come Out Of My Ear Naturally?
There are some super-easy tips and tricks to help the trapped water leave your ear naturally without any concoctions or medical assistance.
None Of That Worked. What Now?
Still need more help to get water out of your ear? Follow these methods using items you can find around your own home.
What Shouldn’t I Do To Get Water Out Of The Ear?
If none of the above tips, tricks, or gentle DIY methods work, you’ll want to avoid getting desperate and doing something that could ultimately cause more harm than good in the long run. For starters, avoid using a cotton swab, a finger, or any other small objects in your ears. Doing so might push the water deeper into your ear, injure your eardrum and ear canal, and cause a bacterial infection.
As Stanford points out, stubborn water in the ear could be a sign of an underlying issue. “If a buildup of earwax is present, it can block water from draining out of the ear canal,” she says. “This should be evaluated by a medical professional. Having the earwax removed by a skilled professional helps allow water to leave the ear canal.”
When Else Should You Seek A Doctor’s Help?
So, it’s been a few days, and the water hasn’t budged. If no pain is present, you can try running through some of the techniques above again to see if time has helped move things along at all. If not, it’s always a smart idea to loop in a healthcare professional for further advice and possibly to assist in getting the water out — especially if you or your little one are in pain.
Emphasizes Stanford, “If there is pain when you tug on the earlobe, pain deep in the ear, fever, or drainage from the ear canal that is not clear, seek evaluation from a medical professional.”
