Here are the healthy ways to clean your ears
How often you should clean your ears and what is the experts’ advice for this? Here are the things you should know.
It is natural for the ears to have earwax, medically known as cerumen. It is a substance naturally produced by glands in the ear canal and its purpose is to trap dust, dirt, bacteria, bugs, and other foreign particles to protect the sensitive inner ear.
Earwax is also moisturizing the ear canal to prevent dryness and irritation, based on the article in The Healthy.
Here are the signs that you need to clean your ears.
- Pain in the ears
- A sensation of fullness or pressure
- Feeling as though your ears are plugged or underwater
- Decreased hearing ability
- Tinnitus, or ringing in the ears
- Itchiness in the ear canal
Greg Roscoe, MD, DMD, MBA, from DuBois, PA, said that you should clean your ears daily but concentrate on the outer part with a washcloth. Experts do not advise the use of cotton swabs because these can push the wax deeper, which may potentially cause compaction and blockage.
Here are the safe ways to clean your ears:
Use a washcloth
Gently wipe around the outer ear with a washcloth. Parents can do this to their kids to avoid the risk of puncturing the eardrum.
Natural jaw movements
Natural movements of your jaw from talking and eating help draw earwax out of the canal, Daniel Troast, AuD, an audiologist at HearUSA said.
Use over-the-counter drugs to soften wax
Apply these drops containing hydrogen peroxide two to three times a day for five to ten minutes. Then, gently flush the ear with warm water to avoid stimulating the vestibular nerve. The routine can be followed for about four to five days.
Use in-ear buds, not headphones
By doing this, you can prevent the direct pressure on the ear canal that often leads to wax buildup.
Consult your doctor
Your healthcare provider can help you with what at-home cleaning methods you can use and assist with thorough cleaning if necessary. The doctors can also help you to prevent future wax buildup.