What to use to relieve ear pressure on a plane if not gum?

[storzo]

My DS just got braces, what can I give him for taking off and landing so his ears don't pop?

 

[Hannathy]

Try some Dum Dum lollipops. Theh are small so he can put the whole thing in his mouth and suck on it. It is mostly the swallowing that does the trick and the sucking doesn't hurt.

 

[ckay87]

Any kind of chewing, swallowing, drinking helps. In fact, I think actually eating something is better than chewing gum because it involves swallowing, which also opens up the ears.

Good luck.

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

earplanes!

if you would like something other than chewing/swallowing something.

we have flown 6 times with our DD9 and these are the only things that help - she has a terrible time with the pressure causing pain. Also, be sure to follow the instructions for the best results.

Good luck!

 

[Rachie0507]

We use lollipops. Dum-dums don't last long enough so we usually use Tootsie Pops or Blow Pops but those wouldn't work with braces either. DD is the only one that has a hard time with ear pressure and she doesn't like to chew gum so we have always used lollipops.

 

[Tink584]

earplanes!

we have flown 6 times with our DD9 and these are the only things that help - she has a terrible time with the pressure causing pain. Also, be sure to follow the instructions for the best results.

Good luck!

My boyfriend swears by these as well.

 

[suzannen]

We always used Wrigley's "Freedent" gum while my DD wore braces and never had a problem. It was specifically made to not stick to dental work for folks with bridges or braces, etc. Her orthodontist approved of it, as well.

 

[LiteBrite]

I vote for earplanes, too.

I've had terrible trouble in the past with my ears while flying, but the use of ear planes, combined with a squirt of Afrin (or any other nasal decongestant spray) 30 minutes before flight time has worked wonders for me.

 

[becka]

Earplanes - don't fly without them!

 

[beachblanket]

The ear discomfort people are referring to is due to sea-level air pressure inside your inner ear not adjusting to the lower air pressure at altitude.

The way to relieve this is to simply get you inner ear adjusted to the same air pressure as that in the airplane cabin. You do this by getting your Eustachian tube (which runs from the back of your throat to your inner ear) to open, which equalizes the air pressure inside your inner ear to that outside it.

Chewing gum, etc. is a weak, inefficient way to do this, and earplanes have the downside of seriously limiting your hearing. The better way to deal with this problem is to use what doctors and scube divers call the Valsava maneuver.

That involves closing your mouth, pinching your nose and then blowing without opening your mouth. When you do this, the air inside your mouth has nowhere to go other than your the Eustachian tube, thus forcing it open and immediately equalizing the air pressure in your inner ear.

If you do this both when the airplane is ascending and descending, you will immediately get rid of ear tightness and discomfort. No more tightness and no need to blow money on earplanes.

 

[hoosll]

EARPLANES!!!

I have been using them for a decade, they are the best!. I have problems in my ears just driving across the mountains in VA ....

I always take a decongestant half an hour before take off, then put in earplanes before takeoff, chew gum AND use saline gel in nostrils to keep membranes moist - the saline keeps you from picking up airborn germs.

 

[Hedy]

I used Mentos when I had orthodontia, and my mom still uses them successfully.

 

[storzo]

I vote for earplanes, too.

I've had terrible trouble in the past with my ears while flying, but the use of ear planes, combined with a squirt of Afrin (or any other nasal decongestant spray) 30 minutes before flight time has worked wonders for me.

Thanks for the picture...I had no idea what you guys were talking about!!

 

[DznyFan]

Aha! Beachblanket, exactly what I was going to suggest. The ol' pinch 'n blow. Close your mouth, pinch off your nose, and try and blow the air out through your nose - gently. You can also try to equalize that pressure by yawning/opening the mouth wide and jiggling the jaw at the same time - you should hear some popping/crackling within the ear that indicates that air is getting into that eustachian tube.

 

[storzo]

We always used Wrigley's "Freedent" gum while my DD wore braces and never had a problem. It was specifically made to not stick to dental work for folks with bridges or braces, etc. Her orthodontist approved of it, as well.

I asked the orthodontist about Freedent and he said no. I don't understand why, all my friends who either had braces or their kids do now say they chewed it and allow the kids to. Maybe I'll just try it, not so much for the plane, but DS is a big gum chewer...given a choice of desserts from ice cream to candy, he will pick a piece of gum.

 

[storzo]

The ear discomfort people are referring to is due to sea-level air pressure inside your inner ear not adjusting to the lower air pressure at altitude.

The way to relieve this is to simply get you inner ear adjusted to the same air pressure as that in the airplane cabin. You do this by getting your Eustachian tube (which runs from the back of your throat to your inner ear) to open, which equalizes the air pressure inside your inner ear to that outside it.

Chewing gum, etc. is a weak, inefficient way to do this, and earplanes have the downside of seriously limiting your hearing. The better way to deal with this problem is to use what doctors and scube divers call the Valsava maneuver.

That involves closing your mouth, pinching your nose and then blowing without opening your mouth. When you do this, the air inside your mouth has nowhere to go other than your the Eustachian tube, thus forcing it open and immediately equalizing the air pressure in your inner ear.

If you do this both when the airplane is ascending and descending, you will immediately get rid of ear tightness and discomfort. No more tightness and no need to blow money on earplanes.

My DH dives, I guess I'll have to get him to show me this trick.

 

[suzannen]

I asked the orthodontist about Freedent and he said no. I don't understand why, all my friends who either had braces or their kids do now say they chewed it and allow the kids to. Maybe I'll just try it, not so much for the plane, but DS is a big gum chewer...given a choice of desserts from ice cream to candy, he will pick a piece of gum.

She did not chew it on a day to day basis, but the orthodontist did say it was okay for her to chew it when she was flying since it was such a short time she would be chewing it.

Question for those mentioning the "close and blow." Once when I was about to fly with an ear infection, one doctor (not my regular one) specifically told me NOT to do that because patients had busted their eardrums doing that (and my boss actually had this happen to him while flying). Have doctors recommended this to you? I've been confused about it ever since.

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

Go to your CVS and buy "Ear Planes". They are a really helpful, I learned about them one year when I got the flu in WDW and had to visit the Urgent Care. I had double ear infections, 103 fever etc. etc. I was so worried about my ears on the plane ride home and the doctor said to go next store and buy Ear Planes...they really helped! I still carry a pair everytime I fly just in case.
Good Luck!

 

[CathrynRose]

I vote for earplanes, too.

I've had terrible trouble in the past with my ears while flying, but the use of ear planes, combined with a squirt of Afrin (or any other nasal decongestant spray) 30 minutes before flight time has worked wonders for me.

2nd everything you said.

 

[dg39]

EARPLANES With out a doubt, I wouldn't fly anywhere without them.....ever...