Learn about ear drops, how they work, how long they take to work, and more.

Sometimes, your ears may produce more earwax than usual. Although it isn’t medically necessary to remove this wax, you may wish to do so and want to know do ear drops work for clogged ears?

A good way to check if you suspect you have a wax build up is with a digital otoscope, like the models made by ScopeAround. If the wax has hardened and is difficult to remove you can buy over-the-counter ear drops like Debrox or you can use some home remedies like olive oil, alcohol, or hydrogen peroxide to soften and dissolve ear wax at home. Here, we will discuss how to dissolve ear wax at home using these options and whether they actually work. 

How do ear drops work?

Ear drops including hydrogen peroxide, isopropyl alcohol, olive oil and name-brand products like Debrox only soften ear wax, they don’t remove it. Each of these drops have been proven to be effective at softening earwax to varying degrees. Usually, these ear drops combine antibacterial properties with wax softening properties to slowly soften ear wax.

A modern approach to earwax removal is to follow the ear drop process by using a digital otoscope with a wax removal attachment. ScopeAround makes a number of devices that are safe to use because you can see inside your ear the entire time you are using the device.

Otoscope cameras have integrated LED lights to illuminate the ear canal and help the tip of the otoscope avoid your eardrum. If you want to know how to remove ear wax safely at home, the digital otoscope is the best method. The soft silicone-tipped spoon attaches to the end of the otoscope and that combined with the camera gives you the perfect tool to scrape out pieces of earwax. 

How long do ear drops take to work?

If you are using ear drops make sure you follow the instructions of any name-brand products. If you are trying a home remedy and want to know how long should you let ear drops sit then it’s usually a good idea to let the drops soak for 5-10 minutes followed by draining and wiping out the solution. Finally, try scraping the ear wax out with a digital otoscope. If the ear wax is still very hard you can try the ear drops again. If your ear canal is impacted with earwax that is not softening and impossible to remove at home you should seek professional help from a doctor, although this is rare.

Do ear drops work for ear infections?

If you have an ear infection, you need to know whether the infection is bacterial or viral before you can treat it properly. Do ear drops work for ear infections? They usually do not. If you are at the point where you have an infection you need to see a doctor to get a proper diagnosis.

Do ear drops work for tinnitus?

It depends on what's to blame for the tinnitus. Tinnitus can have many causes.  If a medication is the trigger, your doctor might suggest that you stop taking it or change to a different drug. If a health issue like high blood pressure is the cause, your doctor can work with you to treat it. Often, the ringing will improve when you get the condition under control.

If too much earwax is causing the tinnitus, you can use ear drops and a digital otoscope to self-diagnose and self-treat an earwax blockage, but extreme earwax impactions may require a visit to the doctor. Sometimes tinnitus takes many months to subside and some people suffer from it for years so it isn’t always curable. Ear drops usually don’t help people suffering from tinnitus.

Shop ScopeAround Ear Inspection Cameras

ScopeAround was the first company to make an ear inspection camera for consumer use and they have the most experience and customer feedback manufacturing these devices.

If you are experiencing ear pain, an ear scope camera is handy to look inside your ear for any obstruction, earwax clog, swelling, or other injury. ScopeAround makes ear cleaning cameras that are stand-alone devices as well as ones that are compatible with iPhone (iOS) and Android mobile devices as well as PC (Windows) or Mac (OSX) computers. Shop now!

 

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