To pop your ears, swallow, yawn, or gently blow against pinched nostrils. That plugged feeling happens when air pressure builds up unevenly on either side of your eardrum, and these simple actions force open the small tubes that connect your middle ear to the back of your throat, letting pressure equalize.
Why Your Ears Feel Plugged
A narrow passage called the Eustachian tube runs from each middle ear to the back of your nose and throat. These tubes are made of bone and cartilage, and they normally open briefly every time you swallow or yawn, letting in tiny amounts of air so that the pressure inside your ear matches the pressure outside. When the tubes stay shut or get blocked by mucus, congestion, or swelling, the pressure on each side of your eardrum falls out of balance. That imbalance is what creates the muffled, full sensation you’re trying to fix.
This commonly happens during airplane descent, driving through mountains, riding elevators in tall buildings, or diving underwater. Colds, allergies, and sinus infections can also swell the Eustachian tubes shut and keep your ears from equalizing on their own.
Swallowing, Yawning, and Chewing
The simplest way to pop your ears is to swallow. Take a sip of water, suck on a hard candy, or just do a deliberate dry swallow. Swallowing activates the muscles that pull your Eustachian tubes open, and because these tubes sit so close to your jaw and throat, chewing gum or wiggling your jaw side to side can do the same thing. Yawning works especially well because it opens the tubes wider and for a longer moment than a regular swallow.
These methods are gentle enough to try repeatedly without any risk. On a flight, start swallowing or chewing gum about 15 to 20 minutes before the plane begins its descent, since that’s when cabin pressure changes fastest.
The Valsalva Maneuver
When swallowing alone doesn’t work, the Valsalva maneuver is the go-to technique. Pinch your nostrils closed, keep your mouth shut, and gently push air out as if you’re trying to blow your nose. You should feel a soft pop or click as air pushes through the Eustachian tubes into your middle ears. Hold for no more than 15 to 20 seconds, then release and breathe normally.
The key word here is “gently.” You’re not trying to force it. A light, steady push is all it takes. Blowing too hard can actually push infected mucus into the middle ear or, in rare cases, damage the eardrum. If a gentle attempt doesn’t work, wait a minute and try again rather than increasing the force.
Toynbee and Lowry Techniques
Two variations on the Valsalva are worth knowing, especially if the standard version doesn’t quite do it for you.
- Toynbee maneuver: Pinch your nostrils closed and swallow. The swallowing motion opens the Eustachian tubes while your closed nose compresses air against them. This tends to feel more natural and controlled than blowing.
- Lowry technique: Pinch your nostrils closed, then blow and swallow at the same time. It combines both methods and is particularly effective for stubborn pressure differences, which is why scuba divers often rely on it.
Both are safe to repeat several times. If one method isn’t working, cycle through the others. People’s anatomy varies slightly, and you’ll likely find one technique that works best for you.
Helping Babies and Young Children
Infants and toddlers can’t follow instructions to pinch their nose and blow, so you have to trigger the same swallowing reflex indirectly. During airplane descent, give an infant a bottle or pacifier to suck on. Older toddlers can sip from a sippy cup or eat a snack. The repeated swallowing does the same job as the Valsalva without any coordination required.
Make sure your child is awake as the plane descends. If they’re asleep, they won’t be swallowing, and the pressure imbalance can build up quickly and cause real discomfort. About 20 minutes before descent, you can also use a children’s nasal decongestant spray to help shrink swollen tissue around the Eustachian tubes, making it easier for air to pass through.
When Congestion Is the Problem
If your ears won’t pop because you’re congested from a cold or allergies, the mechanical techniques above may not be enough on their own. The Eustachian tubes are swollen shut, and no amount of swallowing will force them open. An over-the-counter nasal decongestant spray can reduce that swelling and restore the tubes’ ability to open. Saline nasal spray or a warm shower can also help loosen mucus blocking the passages.
Taking a decongestant about 30 minutes before a flight gives it time to take effect before the pressure changes begin. If allergies are the root cause, an antihistamine can help reduce the swelling that keeps the tubes from functioning normally.
What Not to Do
Resist the urge to blow harder if a gentle Valsalva isn’t working. Forceful blowing raises pressure in your head and chest, temporarily spiking your blood pressure and heart rate. More importantly, too much force can damage your eardrum or push bacteria-laden mucus from your nose into the middle ear space, setting up an infection.
Don’t stick anything in your ear canal. Cotton swabs, fingers, or ear candles won’t help with pressure equalization because the blockage is in the Eustachian tube, which connects to the back of your throat, not to the ear canal itself.
Signs of Something More Serious
Ear pressure that doesn’t resolve within a few hours of trying these techniques, or that came on suddenly with sharp pain, could signal barotrauma, which is actual tissue damage from a pressure difference. Watch for drainage or bleeding from the ear, fever, or severe pain that gets worse rather than better. These symptoms point to a possible ruptured eardrum or middle ear injury that needs medical attention rather than more home attempts at popping.
Chronic ear fullness that lasts days or weeks, especially without any obvious pressure change like flying, can indicate Eustachian tube dysfunction. In that case, the tubes aren’t opening properly on a regular basis, and the pattern is worth getting evaluated rather than managed with repeated Valsalva maneuvers.