How To Clean Your Ears
Are you taking proper precautions when cleaning your ears?
Opinions vary on how to clean your ears, with some people favoring cotton swabs and others preferring ear candles. However, medical professionals generally advise against putting anything inside your ear, as your ears are self-cleaning and don't require additional care. The only time you should consider cleaning them is to remove earwax from the outside of your ear canals. If you choose to do so, it's important to proceed with caution and know the proper technique.
Ever wondered why your ears produce wax?
Our ears naturally produce earwax or cerumen, which protects and lubricates our ears and filters harmful particles like dirt and dust. The old earwax is pushed out of the ear canal and dries up at the ear opening when we chew or move our jaw. It's important to know that earwax is formed in the outer part of the ear canal and not in the deeper areas. Using cotton swabs or pointed objects to clean ears can push the wax further inside and cause earwax blockage against the eardrum. It can also cause severe ear problems and should be avoided.
Safety Tip: Before cleaning your ears, it's important to have them examined by a professional. If your eardrum doesn't have a tube or hole in it, you can try these self-care measures to remove excess earwax that's blocking your ear canal.
How to Clean Your Ears
1 - Soften The Wax
Gently apply a small amount of baby oil, mineral oil, glycerin, or hydrogen peroxide with the use of an eyedropper.
2 - Warm Water
Wait a day or two before using warm water to clean your ear with a rubber bulb syringe. Tilt your head and pull your outer ear up and back to help straighten your ear canal. Drain the water out by tipping your head to the side after cleaning. -
3 - Dry Your Canal
After completing the cleaning process, it's advised to use a towel or hand-held dryer to gently dry your outer ear.
You might need to soften the wax in your ear and rinse it out a few times to get rid of the excess wax. Be careful because the softening agents might only loosen the top layer of the wax, which could push it deeper into your ear. If your symptoms don't get better after a few tries, it's best to see your doctor for more help.
Seek Assistance From A Qualified Specialist
Although attempting to deal with earwax independently may appear tempting, it's difficult to determine if you have an excess without a professional evaluating your ears. Experiencing symptoms such as earache or reduced hearing doesn't necessarily indicate the presence of wax buildup. It's possible that you're dealing with another ear-related medical condition that requires medical attention.
Contact us and schedule an appointment for a free ear examination.
(678) 478 - 7440 or email us at hearlife.ga@gmail.com
