Your ears are designed to clean themselves, but sometimes too much wax can build up in them. If this happens, they might itch, ring, drain fluid, or get smelly. You might also have hearing problems on one side -- the side with the wax -- and sometimes feel as if you are under water. Ask your doctor if you can try to soften the wax with a few drops of mineral oil, baby oil, or hydrogen peroxide. She may tell you how to gently flush it away afterward. If that doesn’t work, she can remove it safely.