Most earaches can be managed at home with a combination of pain relief, compresses, and smart positioning while you wait for the pain to resolve. The majority of ear infections in both adults and children clear up on their own within two to three days, so effective home care is really about controlling pain and avoiding anything that could make the problem worse.
Start With a Warm or Cold Compress
A compress applied near the ear is one of the fastest ways to dull the pain without taking anything. You can use a warm washcloth, a microwaved rice sock, or a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a towel. For best results, alternate between warm and cold every 30 minutes. Heat increases blood flow and relaxes the tissue around the ear, while cold reduces swelling and numbs the area. Make sure the heat isn’t hot enough to burn, and always wrap a cold compress in a towel so the chill isn’t too intense against the skin.
Over-the-Counter Pain Relievers
Acetaminophen (Tylenol) can be taken every four to six hours, and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) every six hours. Ibuprofen has the added benefit of reducing inflammation, which makes it especially useful when swelling around the ear canal or eustachian tube is contributing to the pain. For children under six months, stick to acetaminophen only. Children six months and older can take either one.
If pain relief from these medications isn’t keeping your child comfortable for longer than 48 hours, that’s the point where antibiotics may be needed and it’s time to call a doctor.
The Best Way to Sleep With an Earache
Earaches almost always feel worse at night, and your sleeping position is a big reason why. Lying flat lets fluid pool in the middle ear, increasing pressure on the eardrum. Elevating your head 30 to 45 degrees, roughly two or three firm pillows, uses gravity to drain that fluid through the eustachian tube and reduce pain.
Avoid sleeping on the side of the affected ear. The direct pressure worsens fluid retention and can make the throbbing noticeably worse. Sleep on your back or on the opposite side instead. Stomach sleeping compresses both ears and can impair drainage on both sides, so skip that position too if you can.
Relieving Ear Pressure
If your earache comes with a feeling of fullness or clogged pressure (common with colds, allergies, or flying), you can try to open the eustachian tubes yourself. Swallowing, yawning, or chewing gum all activate the muscles that open these tiny tubes connecting your middle ear to the back of your throat. For babies or toddlers who can’t do this on command, offering a bottle or pacifier achieves the same effect.
A more forceful technique involves pinching your nose shut, closing your mouth, and gently pushing air out as if you’re trying to exhale through your sealed nose. This pushes air into the eustachian tubes and can “pop” the pressure. Be gentle. Blowing too hard can cause damage. And avoid this technique entirely if you have heart valve disease, coronary artery disease, or have had eye surgery such as cataract lens implants, as it increases pressure in the eyes and abdomen.
What About Ear Drops or Oils?
If earwax buildup is contributing to the pain, a few drops of mineral oil or hydrogen peroxide from a clean dropper can soften the wax and help it drain naturally. For mineral oil, use just enough to fill the ear canal, then let it sit and run out. For hydrogen peroxide, fill the ear, wait for the fizzing to stop, and let it drain.
There’s an important exception: if you have any reason to suspect a hole in your eardrum, do not put hydrogen peroxide, oil, or any liquid in the ear. If peroxide gets behind a perforated eardrum, it can be toxic to the inner ear and cause hearing loss. Signs of a perforation include a sudden drop in pain followed by fluid draining from the ear, hearing loss, ringing, or dizziness. If you notice any of these, keep the ear dry and avoid inserting anything into it.
Earaches in Children: When Waiting Is Safe
Parents often worry that an ear infection needs antibiotics right away, but current CDC guidelines support a “watchful waiting” approach for many children. This means observing for two to three days while managing pain at home, giving the immune system time to clear the infection on its own.
Children who qualify for watchful waiting include:
- Ages 6 to 23 months: only one ear is infected, symptoms have lasted less than two days, pain is mild, and temperature is below 102.2°F (39°C)
- Ages 2 and older: one or both ears are infected, with the same criteria of mild pain, less than two days of symptoms, and fever below 102.2°F
Call your pediatrician right away if your child develops a fever of 102.2°F or higher, or if fluid starts draining from the ear. If symptoms haven’t improved after two to three days of home care, check back in with your doctor to discuss whether antibiotics are needed.
Signs That Need Medical Attention
Most earaches resolve without complications, but certain symptoms signal something more serious. Pay attention to:
- Discharge from the ear: pus, blood, or mucus-like fluid draining out suggests a ruptured eardrum or significant infection
- Sudden hearing loss: a rapid decline in hearing, especially in one ear, needs prompt evaluation
- Dizziness or vertigo: spinning sensations, nausea, or vomiting alongside ear pain can indicate inner ear involvement
- Pain lasting beyond 48 hours: earaches that don’t respond to over-the-counter pain relief within two days typically need professional assessment
- Ringing in one ear: tinnitus that’s only on one side, or a pulsing sound that matches your heartbeat, warrants a checkup
What to Avoid
Don’t insert cotton swabs, bobby pins, or any object into the ear canal. These can tear the eardrum and push wax or debris deeper, making the problem worse. If water gets into an ear with a suspected perforation, it can introduce bacteria directly into the middle ear and cause a new or worsening infection.
Skip ear candles entirely. They don’t remove wax effectively and carry real risks of burns and wax deposits from the candle itself. Also avoid putting rubbing alcohol into an ear that’s already painful or inflamed, as it can sting badly and irritate damaged skin in the canal.