What is Earache and Pain?

Earache: What's Causing It and When You Should Worry

Understanding ear pain and knowing when to seek help

Last Hearing Aid UK Update: 31/12/2025

Overview

An earache is one of those problems that can range from mildly irritating to absolutely miserable. It might be a dull ache that comes and goes, a sharp stabbing pain that makes you wince, or a persistent throbbing that keeps you awake at night. Whatever form it takes, ear pain is your body's way of telling you something isn't quite right.

The tricky thing about an earache is that the cause isn't always obvious. Sometimes it's an infection in your ear itself, but often the pain is actually coming from somewhere else entirely, such as your jaw, your throat, or even your teeth.

This is called referred pain, and it's surprisingly common with the ears because of how closely connected everything is in that region of your head.

Understanding what might be causing your earache and knowing when to seek help can save you unnecessary worry or prompt you to get treatment before a minor problem becomes a major one.

What causes earache?

Ear infections: Ear infections are the most common culprit, particularly in children, but certainly not exclusive to them. Middle ear infections happen when fluid builds up behind the eardrum, creating the perfect breeding ground for bacteria or viruses.

The result is pressure, pain, and sometimes temporary hearing loss. Outer ear infections, often called swimmer's ear, affect the ear canal itself and can be equally painful.

Earwax: Earwax build-up causes more problems than most people realise. When wax accumulates and hardens in your ear canal, it can press against your eardrum or the walls of the canal, causing pain and a feeling of fullness. You might also notice your hearing is muffled on that side.

Changes in pressure: Pressure changes during flights or when diving can cause significant ear pain. When the pressure inside your ear doesn't equalise properly with the pressure outside, your eardrum gets pushed inward or outward, which hurts. This usually resolves on its own, but it can be genuinely painful while it's happening.

Problems with the jaw: Jaw problems frequently cause ear pain because your jaw joint sits right in front of your ear canal. If you grind your teeth, clench your jaw when stressed, or have temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ).

The pain can radiate directly into your ear, which is particularly common if the earache gets worse when you chew or talk.

Throat infections: Throat infections like tonsillitis or pharyngitis can cause referred pain in your ears. The nerves that serve your throat and ears are closely connected, so inflammation in one area often triggers pain in the other. If your ear hurts and you've also got a sore throat, this is likely what's happening.

Dental issues: Dental problems can do the same thing, for instance, an infected tooth, particularly one of your back molars, can cause pain that feels like it's coming from your ear.

If your earache coincides with tooth sensitivity or pain when biting down, your teeth might be the real problem.

When to see your GP

Some earaches need professional attention, whilst others will sort themselves out with a bit of time and basic home care. Here's when you should definitely see your GP:

If the pain is severe or hasn't improved after a couple of days, that's worth checking out. If you're running a temperature alongside the ear pain, there's likely an infection that needs treating.

Any discharge from your ear, whether it's pus, blood, or clear fluid, needs medical attention. Sudden hearing loss or dizziness accompanying ear pain should be assessed promptly.

For children, the threshold is naturally lower. If a child under two has earache, or if any child seems particularly unwell with ear pain, see your GP sooner rather than later. Children's ear infections can develop quickly and occasionally lead to complications if left untreated.

Related reading: Hearing loss and dizziness

What helps with ear pain at home?

Whilst you're waiting for an appointment or if the pain is mild, there are things you can do to feel more comfortable, such as:

Over-the-counter painkillers like paracetamol or ibuprofen can take the edge off, and they'll also help if there's inflammation contributing to the pain.
A warm compress held against your ear can provide surprising relief, as the warmth increases blood flow and can help reduce pain and pressure. Just make sure it's comfortably warm rather than hot.
Stay upright when possible, particularly if you're trying to sleep. Lying down can make the pressure in your ear feel worse, so propping yourself up with extra pillows might help you rest more comfortably.
If your earache is due to pressure changes from flying, chewing gum, yawning, or swallowing can help equalise the pressure.

The Valsalva manoeuvre, gently blowing out whilst pinching your nose closed, can work too, though don't do this if you suspect an infection.

What not to do

Don't put cotton buds or anything else into your ear canal. This applies whether you're trying to clean out wax, scratch an itch, or investigate what's causing the pain. You'll likely push wax deeper, potentially damage your eardrum, or introduce infection.
Don't use ear drops unless your GP has specifically recommended them. If you have a perforated eardrum, which you might not know about, some drops can cause problems. Similarly, avoid putting olive oil or other home remedies in your ear without professional advice.

Related reading: Earwax removal tips

Key takeaways

✔️ Earache has multiple causes - infections, wax build-up, pressure changes, jaw problems, throat infections, or dental issues can all trigger ear pain.

✔️ Referred pain is common - your ear might hurt even though the actual problem is in your jaw, throat, or teeth due to closely connected nerves.

✔️ See your GP if the pain is severe, lasts more than two days, comes with fever or discharge, or causes sudden hearing loss or dizziness.

✔️ Children need quicker attention - if a child under two has earache or any child seems particularly unwell, see your GP promptly.

✔️ Home measures can help - painkillers, warm compresses, and staying upright can provide relief for mild ear pain.

✔️ Never put things in your ear - cotton buds, home remedies, or anything else can make problems worse or cause new ones.

✔️ Professional wax removal is safe - if wax build-up is causing pain, see a qualified audiologist rather than attempting DIY removal.

Conclusion

An earache is common and usually not serious, but it's remarkably uncomfortable when you're dealing with it. Most cases are caused by infections, wax build-up, or pressure changes, though sometimes the pain is actually coming from your jaw, throat, or teeth rather than your ear itself.

Simple measures like painkillers and warm compresses can help manage mild ear pain at home, but if the pain is severe, prolonged, or accompanied by fever, discharge, or hearing loss, it's time to see your GP. This is particularly important for young children, who can develop ear infections quickly.

The key is knowing the difference between an earache that'll resolve on its own and one that needs treatment, and when in doubt, getting it checked is always the sensible option.

Concerned about your hearing after an earache or infection?

Ear infections and earaches can sometimes affect your hearing temporarily - or occasionally point to underlying hearing issues that were already there.

If you've recently had ear problems and you're worried about your hearing, or if you've noticed changes since recovering from an infection, we can help.

Our audiologists provide thorough hearing assessments to check everything's working as it should. We can also safely remove any stubborn earwax that might be contributing to discomfort or muffled hearing.

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