Cleaning your ears with cotton buds can cause severe damage as your canals can be quite sensitive.
A rule among doctors is that you should never put anything that’s smaller than your elbow inside them.
In certain cases, cotton buds could push wax deeper into the ear canal – so if you’re using them, they should only be used around the outside of the ear.
Hygiene is still incredibly important for health, however, and thankfully there are a few ways that you can clean your ears without causing any serious damage.
Here are three methods, reported by the Mirror, that can help people keep their ears clean without having to stick anything inside them and risk damaging canals.
1- Saline solution
According to Healthline, a medically accredited website, irrigating your ears with saline solution can effectively clean them.
You will have to fill a syringe with body-temperature water and flush it through one ear while tilting your head. Once you’re done tilting your head the solution should fall right out alongside any dirt and debris.
2- Damp cloth
Simply placing a damp cloth on your head while you lie on your side should be enough to loosen any wax which you can the get rid of with a wipe.
3- Olive Oil
If you’re looking for a more natural solution, put a couple drops of olive oil on your ear each day for around three days. Wax will slowly loosen and eventually fall out, likely when you are asleep.
When should I contact a professional?
You should contact a doctor if you have an earache, experience reduced or muffled hearing, or have feelings of fullness in the ear.
Earwax naturally moves from the inside of your ear canal to the outer part of your ear, so you don’t need to have your ears cleared unless they are blocked.
Additionally, you should never attempt to clean out 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
In some cases a doctor can get rid of your wax build-up if it is significant enough. Contact a doctor if you are concerned about the amount of wax in your ear.
Don’t miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond – Sign up to our daily newsletter here.
