Why You Shouldn’t Use Swabs in The Ears

Category: Health & Physical Fitness

The American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery Foundation states that under ideal circumstances the ear canals should never have to be cleaned. Many people mistakenly believe that earwax should be routinely removed for personal hygiene, but this isn’t so.

Actually, attempting to remove earwax with cotton swabs, or other probing devices like bobby pins, can result in damage to the ear, including trauma, impaction of the earwax, or temporary deafness. These objects can push the wax in deeper, and can block the ear canal.

For most, earwax is only produced in the outer third of the canal, and you risk pushing the earwax deeper into the ear canal, near the eardrum with cotton swabs.

When people have a wax blockage against the eardrum, it is often because of probing the ear with cotton swabs, or other objects that only push the wax in deeper. When this happens, it can bring fungus, bacteria, and viruses from the outer ear into the inner ear, increasing the risk of infection, along with causing hearing loss, or even cause a ruptured eardrum.

This routine can also cause a vicious cycle, as the more you rub the inner ear with cotton swabs, the more histamine is released, which makes your skin irritated and inflamed. This can cause additional dryness and irritation that makes you want to insert a cotton swab again.

There’s even research showing earwax impaction may alter cognitive function in the elderly via its affect on hearing. In one study, when impacted earwax was removed hearing improved significantly, as did the participants’ cognitive function.

Better Ways To Clean The Ears

Most people do not need to clean their ears regularly, but the following symptoms may indicate you have an excess of earwax buildup that may need some attention.

Noticeable Wax Accumulation/Discharge from Ears

Foul Odor in The Ears

Frequent Earaches

Ringing in The Ears

A Feeling That Ears are Plugged

Partial Hearing Loss

Severe Itching In The Ears

In most of these cases, you can clear earwax blockages at home. The simplest way to do this is to first soften the wax by placing a few drops of olive oil or coconut oil in your ear. Then, pour a cap full of 3% hydrogen peroxide in each ear to flush the wax out.

You will hear some bubbling, which is completely normal, and possibly feel a slight stinging sensation. Wait until the bubbling and stinging subside, around 5 to 10 minutes, then drain onto a tissue and repeat with the other ear.

Once you’ve cleared out any excess buildup or impaction, and are getting sufficient amounts of omega-3s, you will normally prevent a recurrence.

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