How to Pop Your Ears? Is it safe to pop your ears?
How to Pop Your Ears – Blocked ears can cause hearing loss. In this case, popping the ears can help.
Ear movement is usually safe. This commonly requires little more than movement of the mouth muscles. No matter which technique you try, it’s important to be careful. If symptoms worsen, it is recommended that you stop trying to clean your ears and see a doctor.
If you are trying to clear your ears with prescription or over-the-counter medications, do not use them for longer than directed on the package. If symptoms persist, then you should visit to your doctor.
Best Ways To Remove Pop My Ears?
There are several ways you can try to pop your ears:
Swallowing
When you start swallow, your muscles will automatically work to open the Eustachian tube. This tube, connects the middle ear to the back of the nose. The opening of the Eustachian tube allows the pressure in the middle ear to equalize, causing the popping sensation.
Chewing gum or sucking on candy can also help stimulate this response.
Yawning
Yawning also helps in opening the Eustachian tube. If you can’t yawn on command, try a fake yawn. Open your mouth, wide as you easily inhale and exhale. It can have the same result. Try to “go” every few minutes until your ears are pops.
Valsalva Maneuver
Pinch the nostrils with your fingers. Try to keep your cheeks neutral or drawn in with swelling. Then slowly exhale through the nostrils. This creates pressure in the back of the nose, which can help to open the Eustachian tube.
Toynbee Maneuver
In order to use this technique, you should pinch your nostrils with your fingers while you are swallowing. A small 2017 study suggested that the Toynbee maneuver can be less effective than the Valsalva maneuver. However, you can try both to see which method works best for you.
Clean with a warm washcloth
If you have an ear infection, applying a warm washcloth or covered heating pad to your ear can help relieve the pain. Placing it on the face can also help relieve sinus pressure in case of a sinus infection, a condition that can cause a feeling of fullness in the ears.
A nasal decongestant
Popping the nostrils can help unclog the ears. If you use an over-the-counter nasal decongestant, it’s best not to take it for more than 3 days in a row. You can try Valsalva or Toynbee maneuvers after using a decongestant.
Nasal corticosteroids
There are many over-the-counter nasal steroids that you can try. Nasal steroids can help to pop the ear by reducing swelling in the nasal passages. This can help air flow more freely through both Eustachian tubes, equalizing the pressure in your ears.
Nasal steroids may be helpful if your ears are blocked due to sinusitis. However, studies show that it may not be effective for chronic ear congestion caused by Eustachian tube dysfunction, also known as Eustachian tube obstruction.
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Ventilation tube
In extreme cases, your doctor may recommend this simple surgical technique to relieve pain and reduce stress.
During the procedure, your doctor will likely use a local anesthetic to numb the area around your ear. They will then insert a thin ventilation tube, also called a pressure compensating tube or tympanostomy tube, into one or both ears to drain the fluid behind the eardrum.
Health professionals often perform this procedure in an adult doctor’s office. They can also do this in the hospital. Manufacturers design their own ventilation pipes. This usually happens after about 1 year.
How does ear popping work?
The Eustachian tube work is to supply air to the middle ear. This helps maintain equal pressure on both sides of the eardrum.
If there is a difference in pressure, the eardrum may swell or bulge in response. Pressure drops can cause a familiar feeling of fullness in the ear.
Ear occlusion involves opening both Eustachian tubes to reduce pressure imbalances, eliminate or reduce discomfort.
The Eustachian tube normally opens automatically when you swallow, chew or yawn. As you do this movement, you will often hear a clicking or popping sound. Air entering the middle ear through the Eustachian tube in each ear causes noise.
If the tube is difficult to open, it may be blocked. This is often caused by fluids, mucus, or inflammation.
Can you pop your ears if you have tinnitus?
Tinnitus is when you hear ringing, ringing, or other sounds that don’t exist in the outside world. Ringing in the ears can be due to the following reasons.
- Sinus or ear infections
- Earwax obstructing the ear canal
- Blocked eustachian tubes
- Brain tumors
- Hearing loss
- Thyroid issues
It is often not possible to determine the cause of tinnitus.
If you have tinnitus, you can often pop your ears. But if the cause of tinnitus is a blockage in the Eustachian tube, the tube cannot open to pop the ear.
What else causes popping in the ears?
Sometimes your ears can pop in and out naturally. This is usually caused by changes in ambient air pressure.
If you are climbing high, such as on an airplane or climbing a high mountain, your ears may ring as they adjust to the pressure of the air around you. Diving underwater also causes pressure changes that cause your ears to pop.
If your ears don’t pop on their own when you fly or change altitude, you can clear them by chewing or yawning.
How to stop popping?
Sometimes, instead of the Eustachian tube being blocked and unable to open, it may have trouble closing. This condition, known as pathological Eustachian tube dysfunction, often causes abnormal loudness and breathing in the ears. You may also hear a popping or popping sound due to this.
Fluid accumulation in the middle ear is another condition that can cause the ear to become full and pop.
In both cases, treatment or rehabilitation can reduce your symptoms.
When to see or visit the doctor?
Your ear may clear on its own, but it’s important to see a doctor if you have any of the following:
- Pus or discharge draining from your ear
- Hearing loss
- Fever
Ear pain - Ringing in your ears
Your doctor can rule out any underlying conditions that may be contributing to ear congestion and other symptoms. Blocked ears can be caused by:
- Enlarged adenoids, also known as swollen tissue at the back of the throat
- Sinus or ear infection
- Allergies
- Earwax buildup
- Common cold
- Temporomandibular joint disorders
A blocked eardrum can sometimes swell to the point of rupture, resulting in a perforated eardrum. It can come from:
- An ear infection
- Activities involving rapid pressure changes, such as air travel
- Head trauma
Perforation of the tympanic membrane requires a doctor’s attention. The condition usually resolves on its own within a few weeks. In some cases, surgery may be required.
The Bottom Line
Moving your ears is usually safe and effective if you do it carefully. Eartape usually works in a few tries. Medicines can also help if you have a runny or stuffy nose.