How do I pop my ears safely?
Last updated September 3, 2026.
Swallow, yawn, chew gum, or use a gentle Valsalva: pinch your nose, close your mouth, and breathe out softly. MedlinePlus lists those exact steps, plus sucking on candy, as the ways to open the eustachian tube and equalize pressure across the eardrum. Gentle is the whole game: hard blowing against a pinched nose can injure the eardrum. During flights, stay awake for landing so you can keep equalizing, and give babies milk or a drink to suck on. Congestion from colds or allergies blocks the tube, so popping is harder then and a decongestant before flying can help. If your ear stays blocked for days, hurts, rings, or your hearing stays muffled, get it checked instead of forcing it.
What to do
- Start passive: swallow, yawn, or chew gum before reaching for pressure maneuvers.
- Valsalva gently: soft breath out against a pinched nose, stop if it hurts.
- Stay awake for landing and keep swallowing or chewing through descent.
- Use a decongestant before flying if you are congested; ask a pharmacist which.
- See a doctor for an ear that stays blocked for days, pain, ringing, or muffled hearing.
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