When you notice wax in your ears or feel your ears get clogged or full, it’s easy to grab the Q-Tip from your medicine cabinet and use it to try to remove anything from your ears. However, this is unsafe and may be The health of the ears – Although your wax may feel satisfied when removing the wax.
To help you take care of your ears better, let’s discuss why Q-TIPS can be dangerous and what you should use to eliminate ear waves.
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Why Q-tips are dangerous to your ears
Cotton swabs, also known as Q-TIP, are the most common device used to clean your ears. Its disadvantages illustrate the fundamental problem of using these types of instruments to remove ear waves.
Thanks to their long and narrow shapes, Q-tips are more likely to push ear waves Enter Your ears are better than pulling them out. When you try to use one to clean the ear canal, you will only compact the ear waves and create more unhearable obstacles.
Worse, if you put your Q-Tip too hard or too far, you might actually pierce your eardrum. The ear canal is Only about one inch (2.5 cm) deepso there is not much margin for errors. one Ears, nose and throat experts CNET previously with Patients were even treated, who had severely damaged their eardrums by sticking out their cell phone from one of the ears through Q-Tip. That’s a call that can really ruin your day.
Generally, it is best to use a cotton swab (or even just a tissue or a damp rag) to clean the outside of the ear outside the canal.
How to Clean Ears Safely
Although we think this is total, Earwax is actually crucial to your ear health. According to Harvard Medical School, it not only lubricates your ear canal and Protect your eardrumsit also has antibacterial and antifungal properties. It naturally prevents harmful buildup, collecting dead skin cells and dirt as it gradually moves towards your outer ear.
In other words, ear waves make your ears cleanse themselves naturally. In most cases, you don’t have to dig out the ear canal or do anything cleaning up – they do the job themselves.
Some people produce more ear waves than others, which can lead to excessive accumulation leading to discomfort or hearing trouble. Hearing aid wearerIn particular, excessive accumulation of ear waves may be caused by additional vibrations in the ears. Whatever the reason, if the ear waves attract you, it is important to see a doctor and evaluate the best treatment.
If your doctor gives a thumbs up, some DIY earplugs can be done safely and effectively:
- Wipe with a damp towel: This is the safest and best way of all. You really can’t get into the ear canal with your fingers and rub it gently on the outside with a damp cloth, usually enough to remove any buildup of ear waves.
- Irrigate the ear canal: If you think you may have some stubborn ear waves in your ear canal, it can usually be flushed out at Harvard Medical School. Soak the cotton balls in warm water, saline solution, mineral oil or hydrogen peroxide, then fix it on the ear canal and tilt the opposite ear towards the floor. After letting it drip and dip in the wax for about a minute, tilt the head in another way and let the soft wax drip out.
- Try over-the-counter ear drops: These drops have the same function as the above method as “ear irrigation” but may also have a dropper or bulb syringe. Doctors recommend that you avoid using a syringe if you have damaged your eardrum, as this allows water to enter the middle ear and put you at risk of a serious infection.
How to not clean your ears
Although the above method of removing ear waves can be safely done, you should avoid some popular tools and techniques. These may be popular on social media, but that doesn’t mean they are safe for your ears.
- Ear candle: The increasingly popular ear wrap kit in recent years claims to soften the wax and pull it out by illuminating the flame on the long funnel you place in the ear canal. According to consumer reports, this method is Highly suspicious Among doctors. The Food and Drug Administration has a long history Not recommended to use ear candles Because of the risk of burns and puncture.
- Ear cleaning kit that can penetrate deep into the ears: Some kits offer tools similar to small shovels or drill shapes that can pull wax out of the ear tube. However, doctors urged to use such tools with caution. Some of them may dangerously penetrate your canal, while others are sharp enough to cut open the ear canal.
- Any sharp object: As mentioned above, whether it’s a store-bought tool or a Bobby Pins, it’s best to avoid anything sharp. Cutting can cause bleeding and scans, which can hinder your hearing and be exposed to infection.
Who shouldn’t clean your ears at home?
People with diabetes or relying on blood thinners should clean their ears with special care. These conditions make stopping bleeding more difficult, which is especially problematic if the tiny cut inside your ear is overly cleaned.
However, these are not the only people who should think twice before doing it. In most cases, it is best to leave ear cleaning for professionals. They have better tools and a better field of view that can help you remove ear waves safely.
The safest way to keep your ears clean is to wet a piece of cloth with warm water and rub it around the outer ear. It is best to use warm water as it will help to “lower” the area. You can also use irrigation methods to rinse your ears. While you might feel that the long and narrow shape of the Q-TIP makes it the most effective way to keep your ears clean, its design can cause injuries, especially if you push the Q-Tip too deep.
Although the ear waves seem rough, they are not actually necessary. This waxy substance plays a key role in keeping the inside of the ear protected and lubricated. You should only consider removing the ear waves, causing ear pain or some degree of hearing loss.
