Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDetermining CauseOther CausesHome CareUsing Home RemediesSeeking Medical Care
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Determining Cause
Other Causes
Home Care
Using Home Remedies
Seeking Medical Care
Antibiotics are only necessary for clearing infection, so this article covers what you need to know to treat earaches at home and how to reduce the pain of an earache.
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How to Stop an Earache Fast: Determining the Cause
There are several possible causes of an earache, including:
Determining Causes: Infection vs. Wax
Signs that an ear infection is the cause of an earache include:
Symptoms for Other Causes of Earache
Symptoms of TMJ or jaw arthritis include:
If aneardrum is ruptured, symptoms might include:
Other Possible Causes of Earaches
Other possible causes of earaches include:
When to Get Medical Attention for Earaches
In adults, persistent ear pain could mean jaw or tooth problems that a specialist like a dentist or physical therapist can address.
Home Care to Relieve Ear Pain Fast
The following are home care tips for relieving ear pain fast:
How to Use a Home Remedy
When to Call a Healthcare Provider
If an earache doesn’t subside within two days, it’s advised to get medical attention to treat a possible infection or other underlying issue, like jaw issues.
Summary
Ear infections are usually treated with antibiotics or left to resolve on their own. Home remedies to treat earaches include using oil and a cotton pad to clean out the ear, eating garlic or ginger, and sleeping in an upright position to relieve pressure. Finding distractions can take your mind off of the pain.
27 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.NHS.Earache.MedlinePlus.Earache.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Ear infection.Penn Medicine.Ear infection (middle ear).NHS.Earwax build-up.MedlinePlus.TMJ disorders.MedlinePlus.Temporomandibular joint dysfunction.MedlinePlus.Ruptured eardrum.Saraf A, Begh RA, Jyoti D, Kalsotra P.Causes of referred otalgia: a hospital-based study.Int J Otorhinolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2020;6(5):944. doi:10.18203/issn.2454-5929.ijohns20201692NHS.Tonsillitis.MedlinePlus.Bruxism.OSF Healthcare.Ear infections: When to treat at home and when to call a doctor.University of Rochester Medical Center.Ice packs vs. warm compresses for pain.Ocshner Health.Earache? Here are 5 remedies you can do at home.National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Antipyrine-benzocaine otic.Nemours KidsHealth.Swimmer’s ear (otitis externa).MedlinePlus.Ear barotrauma.Nemours KidsHealth.Middle ear infections (otitis media).Uzun L, Dal T, Kalcıoğlu MT, Yürek M, Açıkgöz ZC, Durmaz R.Antimicrobial activity of garlic derivatives on common causative microorganisms of the external ear canal and chronic middle ear infections.Turk Arch Otorhinolaryngol.2019;57(4):161-165. doi:10.5152/tao.2019.4413Karuppiah P, Rajaram S.Antibacterial effect ofAllium sativumcloves andZingiber officinalerhizomes against multiple-drug resistant clinical pathogens.Asian Pac J Trop Biomed. 2012;2(8):597-601. doi:10.1016/S2221-1691(12)60104-XSchwartz SR, Magit AE, Rosenfeld RM, et al.Clinical practice guideline (update): earwax (cerumen impaction).Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2017;156(1_suppl):S1-S29. doi:10.1177/0194599816671491Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care.Outer ear infection: What helps if earwax builds up?.University of Georgia.TMJ - Jaw/temporomandibular joint disorder.Murphy DR, Gay CW.Manual therapy and ear pain: a report of four cases.J Can Chiropr Assoc. 2011;55(1):40-46.MyHealthAlberta.ca.Pain distraction.MedlinePlus.TMJ disorders.MedlinePlus.Toothaches.
27 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.NHS.Earache.MedlinePlus.Earache.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Ear infection.Penn Medicine.Ear infection (middle ear).NHS.Earwax build-up.MedlinePlus.TMJ disorders.MedlinePlus.Temporomandibular joint dysfunction.MedlinePlus.Ruptured eardrum.Saraf A, Begh RA, Jyoti D, Kalsotra P.Causes of referred otalgia: a hospital-based study.Int J Otorhinolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2020;6(5):944. doi:10.18203/issn.2454-5929.ijohns20201692NHS.Tonsillitis.MedlinePlus.Bruxism.OSF Healthcare.Ear infections: When to treat at home and when to call a doctor.University of Rochester Medical Center.Ice packs vs. warm compresses for pain.Ocshner Health.Earache? Here are 5 remedies you can do at home.National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Antipyrine-benzocaine otic.Nemours KidsHealth.Swimmer’s ear (otitis externa).MedlinePlus.Ear barotrauma.Nemours KidsHealth.Middle ear infections (otitis media).Uzun L, Dal T, Kalcıoğlu MT, Yürek M, Açıkgöz ZC, Durmaz R.Antimicrobial activity of garlic derivatives on common causative microorganisms of the external ear canal and chronic middle ear infections.Turk Arch Otorhinolaryngol.2019;57(4):161-165. doi:10.5152/tao.2019.4413Karuppiah P, Rajaram S.Antibacterial effect ofAllium sativumcloves andZingiber officinalerhizomes against multiple-drug resistant clinical pathogens.Asian Pac J Trop Biomed. 2012;2(8):597-601. doi:10.1016/S2221-1691(12)60104-XSchwartz SR, Magit AE, Rosenfeld RM, et al.Clinical practice guideline (update): earwax (cerumen impaction).Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2017;156(1_suppl):S1-S29. doi:10.1177/0194599816671491Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care.Outer ear infection: What helps if earwax builds up?.University of Georgia.TMJ - Jaw/temporomandibular joint disorder.Murphy DR, Gay CW.Manual therapy and ear pain: a report of four cases.J Can Chiropr Assoc. 2011;55(1):40-46.MyHealthAlberta.ca.Pain distraction.MedlinePlus.TMJ disorders.MedlinePlus.Toothaches.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
NHS.Earache.MedlinePlus.Earache.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Ear infection.Penn Medicine.Ear infection (middle ear).NHS.Earwax build-up.MedlinePlus.TMJ disorders.MedlinePlus.Temporomandibular joint dysfunction.MedlinePlus.Ruptured eardrum.Saraf A, Begh RA, Jyoti D, Kalsotra P.Causes of referred otalgia: a hospital-based study.Int J Otorhinolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2020;6(5):944. doi:10.18203/issn.2454-5929.ijohns20201692NHS.Tonsillitis.MedlinePlus.Bruxism.OSF Healthcare.Ear infections: When to treat at home and when to call a doctor.University of Rochester Medical Center.Ice packs vs. warm compresses for pain.Ocshner Health.Earache? Here are 5 remedies you can do at home.National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Antipyrine-benzocaine otic.Nemours KidsHealth.Swimmer’s ear (otitis externa).MedlinePlus.Ear barotrauma.Nemours KidsHealth.Middle ear infections (otitis media).Uzun L, Dal T, Kalcıoğlu MT, Yürek M, Açıkgöz ZC, Durmaz R.Antimicrobial activity of garlic derivatives on common causative microorganisms of the external ear canal and chronic middle ear infections.Turk Arch Otorhinolaryngol.2019;57(4):161-165. doi:10.5152/tao.2019.4413Karuppiah P, Rajaram S.Antibacterial effect ofAllium sativumcloves andZingiber officinalerhizomes against multiple-drug resistant clinical pathogens.Asian Pac J Trop Biomed. 2012;2(8):597-601. doi:10.1016/S2221-1691(12)60104-XSchwartz SR, Magit AE, Rosenfeld RM, et al.Clinical practice guideline (update): earwax (cerumen impaction).Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2017;156(1_suppl):S1-S29. doi:10.1177/0194599816671491Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care.Outer ear infection: What helps if earwax builds up?.University of Georgia.TMJ - Jaw/temporomandibular joint disorder.Murphy DR, Gay CW.Manual therapy and ear pain: a report of four cases.J Can Chiropr Assoc. 2011;55(1):40-46.MyHealthAlberta.ca.Pain distraction.MedlinePlus.TMJ disorders.MedlinePlus.Toothaches.
NHS.Earache.
MedlinePlus.Earache.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Ear infection.
Penn Medicine.Ear infection (middle ear).
NHS.Earwax build-up.
MedlinePlus.TMJ disorders.
MedlinePlus.Temporomandibular joint dysfunction.
MedlinePlus.Ruptured eardrum.
Saraf A, Begh RA, Jyoti D, Kalsotra P.Causes of referred otalgia: a hospital-based study.Int J Otorhinolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2020;6(5):944. doi:10.18203/issn.2454-5929.ijohns20201692
NHS.Tonsillitis.
MedlinePlus.Bruxism.
OSF Healthcare.Ear infections: When to treat at home and when to call a doctor.
University of Rochester Medical Center.Ice packs vs. warm compresses for pain.
Ocshner Health.Earache? Here are 5 remedies you can do at home.
National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus.Antipyrine-benzocaine otic.
Nemours KidsHealth.Swimmer’s ear (otitis externa).
MedlinePlus.Ear barotrauma.
Nemours KidsHealth.Middle ear infections (otitis media).
Uzun L, Dal T, Kalcıoğlu MT, Yürek M, Açıkgöz ZC, Durmaz R.Antimicrobial activity of garlic derivatives on common causative microorganisms of the external ear canal and chronic middle ear infections.Turk Arch Otorhinolaryngol.2019;57(4):161-165. doi:10.5152/tao.2019.4413
Karuppiah P, Rajaram S.Antibacterial effect ofAllium sativumcloves andZingiber officinalerhizomes against multiple-drug resistant clinical pathogens.Asian Pac J Trop Biomed. 2012;2(8):597-601. doi:10.1016/S2221-1691(12)60104-X
Schwartz SR, Magit AE, Rosenfeld RM, et al.Clinical practice guideline (update): earwax (cerumen impaction).Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2017;156(1_suppl):S1-S29. doi:10.1177/0194599816671491
Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care.Outer ear infection: What helps if earwax builds up?.
University of Georgia.TMJ - Jaw/temporomandibular joint disorder.
Murphy DR, Gay CW.Manual therapy and ear pain: a report of four cases.J Can Chiropr Assoc. 2011;55(1):40-46.
MyHealthAlberta.ca.Pain distraction.
MedlinePlus.Toothaches.
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