How To Pop Your Ears and Relieve Pressure

Finding ways to open your eustachian tube, which connects your middle ear to your nasal sinus cavities and the back of your throat, can help you pop your ears open again. You can pop your ears by chewing gum, swallowing, or yawning if they won't pop.

Clogged ears feel like an uncomfortable pressure inside your ear canal that muffles your hearing. You've probably felt this sensation as you reach altitude in an airplane or have a sinus infection. Both scenarios can affect the air pressure against your eardrum and cause that plugged-up feeling. 

A few different tricks can help you open your eustachian tubes and pop your ears safely. Here's everything proven to help pop your ears, from easy muscle movements to medications.

1. Swallowing

Swallowing can help open up the eustachian tubes since they connect to the back of your throat. Air can enter the tube to help equalize pressure and "pop" your ears. Try sipping water or another beverage to prompt the motion.

2. Yawning

A real or fake yawn can also help open your eustachian tubes to pop your ears. Opening your mouth and breathing in and out will momentarily open these tubes so air can flow back into your middle ear. This will equalize the pressure and get rid of that clogged feeling.

3. Chewing Gum

There's a reason people say to chew gum on airplanes. Chewing combines the swallowing and yawning actions that open up your eustachian tubes and help equalize pressure in your ears. Try chewing gum during takeoff to help pop your ears if you're flying.

4. Valsalva Maneuver 

Breathing maneuvers can also help pop your ears. The Valsalva maneuver method helps create pressure behind your nose that can open your eustachian tubes.

You'll feel the pressure build up and a popping sensation in your ears as your eustachian tubes open up. To try the maneuver:

• Breathe in
• Pinch your nose closed and close your mouth
• Try to breathe out of your nose
  

5. Toynbee Maneuver

This method can also create pressure in the back of your nose to open your eustachian tubes. Pinch your nose closed and try to swallow to do the Toynbee maneuver. Other research has shown that this method may be less effective than the Valsalva maneuver.

6. Frenzel Maneuver

Scuba divers typically use the Frenzel maneuver to help relieve ear pressure. This method creates some pressure in your nasal cavities that helps open up the eustachian tubes.

Pinch your nose closed and close your mouth to try the Frenzel maneuver. You'll then try to make a "K" sound while keeping your mouth and nose closed.

7. Decongestants

Suppose you have congestion that's putting pressure on your sinuses and ears. An over-the-counter (OTC) nasal decongestant like phenylephrine or pseudoephedrine may unclog your ears.

Decongestants taken orally or as a nasal spray help reduce swelling in your nasal passage's blood vessels. This results in more room for breathing and less head pressure from snot and inflammation.  

Decongestants are a temporary fix if you're recovering from an illness or have allergies that clog your ears. Research has shown that taking decongestants isn't as effective as other methods for chronically clogged ears.

8. Nasal Corticosteroids

OTC nasal corticosteroids can reduce inflammation in your nasal passages if you have a cold or allergies. This helps air move to the eustachian tubes, helping to pop your ears. Some evidence suggests this isn't helpful if your plugged-up ears are caused by chronic eustachian tube dysfunction, or blocked eustachian tubes.

Is It OK To Pop Your Ears? 

Popping your ears is typically considered safe as long as you're gentle. Ear-popping methods that require moving your mouth muscles and forceful breathing aren't known to cause harmful side effects when done with care.

OTC medications like decongestants or nasal corticosteroids are also typically safe for adults to relieve ear pressure related to illness or allergies. Just make sure you use medicine as directed. 

Decongestants are unsafe for children under 4 years old, and some are not recommended if you're pregnant. Decongestants also won't help solve the underlying issues that may cause chronically clogged ears. If you're unsure, ask a healthcare provider what medication is safe for you.

Why Do Ears Get Clogged? 

Clogged ears are usually caused by changes in pressure that affect your middle ear. This can happen naturally or be prompted by illness, damage, or anatomy issues that cause eustachian tube dysfunction. 

Things that can change your middle ear pressure and clog your ears include: 

• Allergies, sinus infection, and upper respiratory illnesses: Snot and inflammation can close off or block your eustachian tubes.
• Changes in altitude: Air pressure changes from driving in the mountains, flying in an airplane, scuba diving, or taking an elevator can clog your ears.
• Ear infection: An ear infection can cause ear pain and pressure to build up inside your ear from inflammation and fluid. 
• Eustachian tube damage: Injuries or other trauma to the middle ear and related muscles can damage your eustachian tubes.

When To Contact a Healthcare Provider

Your ears may also pop on their own without intervention. Your ears will usually return to normal after you land if they're clogged after jet setting.

Reach out to a healthcare provider if you have clogged ears and signs of an infection or blockage like:

• Drainage coming out of your ear
• Ear pain
• Facial weakness
• Fever
• Hearing loss
• Ringing in your ears (tinnitus)

Clogged ears can be a sign of an infection that needs prescription medication to clear any blockage in the ear. You may need antibiotics to treat an ear or sinus infection. 

Your eardrums can also burst if an underlying infection isn't treated or you experience rapid air pressure changes in a short time. This can lead to a perforated eardrum (a tear in your eardrum). A healthcare provider may suggest surgery to unclog your ears to avoid a burst eardrum, although it's rare. This usually involves operating on the eardrum and draining fluid in the ear to equalize pressure.

A Quick Review

It's typical for changes in air pressure to make your ears feel clogged and give you the urge to pop them. Popping your ears with forceful breathing methods or simple swallow, chew, or yawn motions can open up your eustachian tubes and pop your ears. These movements equalize pressure around your eardrum.

Taking an OTC decongestant or steroid may temporarily relieve symptoms if an illness is to blame for your clogged ears. See a healthcare provider to ensure you're treating the underlying cause of your clogged ears if your symptoms don't improve on their own.