Nasal rinse problems. » Mayo Clinic Connect (2024)

FAQs

Why won't my nasal rinse work? ›

This can happen if your sinuses are swollen or if your head is not tilted properly. If you feel like water is stuck, keep your head upright for a while and try blowing your nose. The water should work its way out."

When nasal rinses are done properly, the side effects, if any, are typically minor and temporary. The most common issues resulting from a nasal rinse are a burning or stinging sensation in the nose and mild irritation in the nasal passages.

Because your ear, nose and throat are interconnected, using sinus rinses or neti pots can sometimes cause water to get stuck in your ears. If this happens, try one of the self-care tips mentioned above to drain the water from your ear or book an appointment with a hearing care specialist.

Nasal washes or rinses containing baking soda can be particularly helpful in thinning the mucus out and making it clear. People with allergic rhinitis and acute or chronic sinusitis might consider using baking soda nasal rinses regularly. This can help keep airways clear from mucus and reduce the risk of infection.

Your congestion can feel worse after a sinus rinse if you use only water rather than the saline solution. It can cause swelling in the nasal passages, making symptoms worse. Water from the neti pot can get stuck in your sinuses if you don't tilt your head correctly.

Tilt the container or squeeze the bottle so that water flows through your top nostril into your bottom one. You'll feel the water trickle as it flows downward and spills into the sink. Keep going until the solution is gone. Blow your nose.

Tilt your affected ear towards the same-side shoulder. Create movement around the blocked site; lightly tug your ear lobe and apply pressure around the opening of the ear and jiggle the area. Gravity can help, too. Try lying down on the same side as your clogged ear.

Some people begin to experience discomfort in their ears or Eustachian tubes when using neti pots or other sinus rinses. They'll notice pressure changes in their ears and/or feel like they need to pop their ears often.

Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) is safe for use on the mucous membranes as gargling or as a nasal spray; in fact, it is already commonly used in otolaryngology.

Can I flush my sinuses with apple cider vinegar? ›

Apple cider vinegar has antibacterial and antifungal properties and is a good source of vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, calcium, and magnesium which aids in treating sinus infection. It works by loosening up the mucous and clearing nasal passages.

Use your index fingers to gently press either side of your nose, at the base of your nostrils. Circle under your cheekbones, toward your ears, and up to your temples, above your eyebrows and down the sides of your nose. You'll make a full circle, starting back where you started.

In our experience, the number one reason that nasal sprays "don't work" is that they never make it to the surfaces of the nasal lining that are swollen . The reason? Most people mistakenly think that looking up and sniffing in will get the medication more deeply into the nasal passages.

Yes, it is possible to get water stuck in your sinuses from a sinus rinse. This can happen if your sinuses are swollen or if your head is not tilted properly. If you feel like water is stuck, keep your head upright for a while and try blowing your nose. The water should work its way out.

The swelling of the lining also interferes with the way mucus normally drains, making your nose stuffy. Sinusitis can be brought on by an infection; growths in the sinuses, such as nasal polyps; or swelling of the lining of your sinuses due to conditions such as allergies.

Fill a large medical syringe, squeeze bottle, or nasal cleansing pot (such as a neti pot) with the saline solution. Insert the tip into your nostril, lean over the sink, and squeeze gently. Aim the stream of saline solution toward the back of your head, not toward the top.