How to Properly Clean Your Ears

1. How to Properly Clean Your Ears Did you know that cleaning your ears improperly could possibly weaken your hearing ability? Because your ear is such a delicate and intricate body part, it requires a bit of special care. In order to better understand the ear and how to properly care for it, here are some important tips for keeping your ears healthy. 1. The truth about earwax Many people think earwax is gross, but the truth is it plays a very important role in keeping your ears healthy. It protects the ear canal skin and serves as a self-cleaning agent with protective, lubricating and antibacterial properties. Without earwax, our ears can become dry, itchy and open to infections. The best thing you can do for your ears is to not put anything in them smaller than your elbow. Earwax isn’t formed in the deep part of our ear canals. So items like cotton swabs actually push wax deeper into the ear and are often the cause of wax blockage against the eardrum. Let nature run its course when it comes to earwax and use a washcloth or a tissue to wipe your outer ear after showering.

2. 2. When ears need to be cleaned In an ideal world, ear canals should never need to be cleaned. But unfortunately sometimes earwax can accumulate and cause a condition caused cerumen (earwax) impaction, which can result in: Earaches or a “plugged” sensation in the ear Partial hearing loss Tinnitus Itching, odor or discharge Coughing If you experience any of these symptoms, first see your doctor or hearing healthcare provider. If earwax is the culprit, your doctor or a trained Audiologist can remove it. Read More