Patient Services Patient Information Nasal Washes
|
Nasal Washes Introduction: Flushing or washing out the nose restores the normal flow of mucus and cleans away crust from inside entire nose. Routine nasal washes may help to clear infections, keep infections from starting, control nasal odors, decrease nasal stuffiness or promote healing after nasal or sinus surgery. You may need special tools to do this well. It may seem like a weird thing to be doing at first, but soon it will feel as normal as brushing your teeth or combing your hair! Think of it as a shower for your nose! Solutions use for Nasal Washes. Be sure to ask which solution and flushing method is best for you. A. Salt: water (saline).
C. Commercial Solutions
BULB SYRINGE METHOD Buy a small rubber, bulb Syringe (these are packaged as 2, 3, or 4 oz. Ear syringes-$5) from your local drug store). Fill it with the solution and place it into your nose while holding over a sink. Squeeze the bulb to flush your nose. The saline will flow back out from the nose and mouth. If the force of fluid seems too weak, you can use a scissors to trim back the syringe tip and widen its opening. This will make the flushing more forceful when you squeeze. Trim off just a little piece of the syringe tip at a time until you find the right amount. WATER PIK METHOD Use a regular dental water pik (about $40 from your local drug store). Instead of the dental tips that come with the water pik, use a special nasal tip (see below). Mix the irrigant in the water pik basin or fill it from a storage container. Set the water Pik on LOW. Put the nasal tip into the nose while holding over a sink or basin with your chin tipped down nearly touching your chest, then turn ON the water tap. Slowly increase the force or flow until debris comes out in the returns. The saline will pour into your nose then back from your nose and mouth. Where to get nasal flushing tips for theWater Pik (no prescription needed).
How much should I flush and for how long? For all methods, keep flushing one side of the nose until the returns are clear. Then switch to the other side and flush until the returns are clear. The whole session should last about 10 to 15 minutes. Stop if you have any severe pain or brisk bleeding. Please call us immediately. Some Do's and Don'ts while flushing: Do breathe through your mouth or hold your breath while flushing. Do take the tip out of your nose if you have to sneeze or cough. Do not speak or swallow during the flushing as thus could change the pressure in your ears or nose and could cause infectious mucus to be drawn into the sinuses or middle ear Clean up: Keep the devices very clean. especially the tips used in the nose. After each use:
Once a week:
|