Earache is a miserable condition and can cause sleepless nights and leave you in a great deal of pain, which is why knowing how to get rid of earache can be very useful, although you need to be certain your earache is not the result of an ear infection before you attempt to sure it with some home remedies.
How to get rid of earache on a plane
Changes in air pressure can cause intense pain inside the ear, particularly in small children and babies because they have narrow tubes and their ears are less able to adjust. However, this type of earache is easily cured with sweets, so after takeoff, give your child a sweet to chew as this will encourage them to swallow, which in turn relieves the build up of pressure inside the ear. Babies should be offered a bottle or the breast during takeoff as this achieves the same effect and helps them to avoid any ear pain.
How to get rid of earache at home
Minor cases of earache can usually be relieved with some over the counter painkillers or a hot or cold compress. Try taking some paracetamol or ibuprofen and applying a warm towel or ice pack to the afflicted ear. Hopefully this will provide some temporary relief and within a day or two your earache will have been vanquished.
In many cases, mild earache is typically caused by a build up of ear wax in the middle ear, either as a result of a cold, or because you have tried cleaning your ears with cotton buds and pushed the ear wax deeper down the ear canal. In this instance, use some over the counter ear drops or warm olive oil to soften the ear wax and allow it to come out naturally.
How to get rid of earache using natural remedies
There are lots of natural remedies worth trying if you have earache. Warm oil steeped in garlic can act as a natural antibiotic and painkiller when applied as drops inside the ear. Warm urine is another old wives remedy you might like to try, although not everybody will wish to give this one a go. Tea tree oil is another natural antiseptic. Add a few drops of tea tree oil to warm water and drop inside the ear for a natural cooling effect.
If you suspect the earache is caused by an ear infection, the only way to get rid of earache is to deal with the underlying infection, which will normally require a course of antibiotics. As well as severe earache, if an ear infection is the cause of your pain, you will have a fever, swelling around the affected ear, and possibly a headache.
But even if you are not sure whether an ear infection is the cause of your ear pain, if the earache is still present after two days, it is worth seeking medical advice to rule out the possibility of any underlying problem that might require a course of antibiotics.