How To Pop Ears Safely

Swallowing

An individual who experiences discomfort or pain due to the air pressure between the middle and outer ears being unequal may be able to pop their ears by swallowing. The air pressure in the middle ear is regulated by a canal that connects the nasopharynx to the middle ear (the eustachian tube). This tube clears out mucus and moves it from the middle ear to the nasopharynx through the mechanism of proper aeration. This mechanism helps prevent an infection from spreading to an individual's middle ear tissues. A healthy individual's eustachian tube remains closed for the majority of the time and opens when they chew, swallow, or yawn. The opening of the eustachian tubes allows for the flow of air from the nasopharynx to the middle ear, which allows the air pressure to equalize on both sides of the eardrum. An individual benefits from the eustachian tubes being closed most of the time because it helps to avoid loud sounds and unwanted changes in pressure. Because the muscles used when an individual swallows induce the opening of the eustachian tubes, repeatedly swallowing may help pop the ears.

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