Though many of us turn to trusty cotton buds to give our ears a clean, they can actually cause more harm than good. Ears are clever and intuitive in that they clean themselves.
Despite this, many people still reach for a cotton bud to give them a deeper clean, whether our ears need it or not. Cotton buds and swabs are a traditional tool used to clean inside the ear but they should only ever be used outside the ears. This is because they can cause a number of ear related issues, including infections and, in some cases, injury.
The budget-friendly tool actually pushes wax deeper into the ear canal which leads to build up and sometimes, they can even cause a ruptured eardrum. It's best to use them to only clean the outside of your ears to stay safe, reports The Mirror.
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If you have a lot of wax build-up, the best way to get rid of it is to visit a doctor, but what if you just want to clean your ears at home? There's plenty of safe methods to clean your ears - and none of them involve cotton buds:
Use a damp cloth
Grab a clean cloth soaked in warm water and gently place it over your ear while lying on your side. The heat should loosen up any ear wax, allowing you to then gently wipe the outside of your ear.
Use a saline solution
Medically accredited website Healthline suggests irrigating your ears can be a very effective way of cleaning them. Simply fill a syringe with body-temperature water and flush it through one ear while tilting your head.
The liquid should then just spill out, taking any loose dirt and debris with it. Healthline adds this method is more effective if you initially use a wax softener 15 to 30 minutes ahead of irrigation.
Olive Oil
One of the most natural remedies also happens to be one of the best. Just put a few small drops of olive oil into your ear for around three days. Always tilt your head when doing this.
The oil will then loosen your wax and gently ease it out. The wax may emerge at any time, so watch out for it on your pillow.
While the above are all safe methods of clean your ears, just remember the rule among doctors is to never put anything smaller than your elbow inside them. It's also worth bearing in mind that experts say you don’t really need to ever clean your ears unless they regularly become blocked.
A natural cleanser, earwax generally moves from the inside of your ear canal to the outer part of your ear, picking up dirt, dead skin cells and even hair along the way. While it may be tempting to get rid of any wax, it is important to remember that you don’t want to be flushing it away too often. Doing so may irritate the ear canal and lead to further impaction if not done properly.
If you do experience wax build-up and the above methods haven't worked, it is worth considering an over the counter kit, but be sure to follow the package instructions and contact a doctor if further guidance is needed. You should never attempt to irrigate your ears if:
- You have tubes in the affected ear
- You have a compromised immune system
- You have diabetes
- You may have a hole in your eardrum
When looking after your ears, it’s important to assess the severity of any wax build-up. If it gets too bad and you don’t do anything about it, your symptoms can get worse.
It is sensible to contact a doctor if you:
- Have earache
- Experience reduced or muffled hearing
- Have feelings of fullness in the ear
Infections of the ear usually come on quite quickly, so if you notice any pain and drainage from your ears don’t try to treat it on your own. Instead, make an appointment with the doctor. If you’re experiencing symptoms of impaction, you want to be sure it’s just wax and not, for example, fluid or hearing loss, which requires more medical attention.
