Earwax is an important part of the body’s natural lubrication system. It protects ears from infection and helps people hear.
Nevertheless, many people have misconceptions about how to clean their ears. This can lead to earwax impaction. To avoid this, follow these simple ear care tips: 1. Wash your ears daily.
Wash Your Ears Daily
While you may wash your hands, brush your teeth, and take a shower on a regular basis, the average person cleans their ears less often. However, over time, this can lead to an accumulation of earwax in the ears. Fortunately, there are several ways to safely and effectively remove this waxy buildup from the ears.
Many people rely on cotton swabs or ear candles to remove earwax, but these items are not good for your ear canal. They can actually cause a buildup of earwax and even damage the eardrum if used too often. Instead, doctors recommend using over-the-counter ear drops that help soften the earwax so it can easily make its way out of the ear canal.
It’s also recommended to avoid using bobby pins or other sharp objects in the ears as they can injure the ear canal or eardrum. If you must clean your ears, do so with a washcloth wetted in warm water. Then, you can gently rub the washcloth around your ears to remove any earwax that is there.
Another great option for removing earwax is to place some chamomile oil in the ear before you go to bed. This will also help prevent ear infections and keep your ears healthy. You can purchase chamomile oil at most pharmacies or you can make your own by mixing one tablespoon of chamomile with two liters of water.
Dry Your Ears
A healthy ear canal naturally produces a natural wax that helps to prevent hearing loss. Too much earwax, however, can cause problems and should be removed carefully by an otolaryngologist or another healthcare professional with specialized tools. Attempting to clean out excessive earwax on your own can actually lead to more earwax being produced, as well as skin irritation and other symptoms.
Trapped water in your ears can also work its way out on its own, but if it’s still there after a swim or shower, you should take steps to get it out safely. Avoid sticking anything—especially cotton swabs or your fingers—into your ears, as this can introduce bacteria and possibly puncture your eardrum. Ear candles are also not recommended, as studies show they are ineffective and can lead to ear infections or injuries.
Instead, try jiggling your ears or laying on the side where the water is trapped to help it drain out. You can also use a blow dryer on the lowest setting and aim it toward your ears, holding it about a foot away from your head. Finally, you can use over-the-counter drying drops to help with the process. You can also make your own at-home solution by combining equal parts vinegar and rubbing alcohol in a dropper bottle and applying it to the outer part of the ear canal. Then tilt your head to the side and let the drops drain.
Remove Earwax
It may be icky, but earwax is a necessary bodily secretion that helps clean, protect and lubricate the ear canal. However, over time, earwax can build up to a point where it blocks the ear canal and eardrum. When this happens, symptoms such as muffled hearing or dizziness are likely to occur, and ear wax removal in Aberdeen can help you solve these symptoms.
Earwax blockage can be removed by a health care provider using a small, curved tool called a curet or a suction technique. Alternatively, a health care provider may recommend earwax-softening agents such as saline solution, mineral oil or hydrogen peroxide to help the earwax leave the ear canal more easily.
It’s important to note that attempting to dig out excessive or hardened earwax with objects such as a paper clip, cotton swab or hairpin is never a good idea. In addition to being ineffective, these objects can actually push the earwax further into the ear canal or cause a ruptured eardrum.
Another safe and effective method for removing excess earwax is irrigation with a bulb syringe, which can be purchased at most grocery stores or drug stores. Fill the syringe with warm water and position it over your ear opening. Then, gently squeeze the bulb so the warm water shoots into your ear. Allow the water (and hopefully, earwax) to run down into a towel or basin. Repeat this process about once a month to prevent earwax buildup.
Irrigate Your Ears
Ear irrigation is a painless process in which warm water or a water and saline mixture is squirted into the ears. This helps to soften earwax and remove it. This is typically done in the doctor’s office. It may also be done at home with a kit purchased from a drug store that comes with a syringe-like tool. Audiologists often perform this procedure with hearing patients, but it can be done by medical assistants and nurses in any setting.
If you are using a kit for ear irrigation, be sure to read the instructions carefully. It will likely instruct you to use a non-toxic solution, such as a 50/50 mixture of vinegar and water. The vinegar lowers the pH of the ear canal, which softens wax and helps it to flow out.
The procedure is easy to perform, but requires practice to master. To get started, have your patient sit or recline with the affected ear facing upward and a towel under the head. Alternatively, have them stand and hold an emesis basin under the ear to catch the fluid and cerumen that will flow out.
Next, fill the syringe with the non-toxic solution and warm it to body temperature. Place the syringe in the patient’s ear and direct a steady stream of the irrigating solution against the roof of the auditory canal. Avoid blocking the canal with the syringe nozzle, as this could cause a pressure buildup within the ear that can be painful and/or dangerous.
Clean Your Hearing Aids
It is a good idea to wipe off your hearing aid domes or earpieces daily, whether it is before you put them in at the end of the day or when you wake up in the morning. It only takes a moment and will help prevent any wax build-up on the device. You should never use alcohol wipes on a regular basis, however, as they can cause damage to the earpiece.
It’s best to get a cleaning kit that contains a soft cloth, brush, wire loop and wax pick. These can be purchased at most local big box stores for $7 to $45 or online. This way you can have all the tools you need for a quick and easy hearing aid cleaning at home.
The brush is used to clean the entire device and loosen up any wax or debris. Then, you can use the wax pick to remove any wax that couldn’t be removed with the brush. You can also use the wire loop to clean out any holes in the device that you could not reach with the brush or the wax pick.
Behind-the-ear (BTE) devices require a little more work because of their design that separates the electronic components from the earmold. They need to be completely dry when not in use to prevent moisture from damaging the device. It’s a good idea to set up a schedule for yourself to brush and wipe down your BTE device every day and complete a full cleaning once a week.
Schedule an Ear Exam
Your ears play an important role in your health and hearing. You can keep them healthy by protecting them from injury, keeping the insides clean, and scheduling regular exams with an audiologist. It’s important to get your ears checked at least once a year, especially if you are an adult and haven’t had them tested since grade school. If you have difficulty hearing conversations or experience ringing in your ears, it’s also a good idea to see a doctor right away.
An audiologist can use a handheld device with a light and a magnifying lens, called an otoscope, to look into your ears. To prepare for this, make sure to wipe the outside of your ears with a soft washcloth so that they don’t have any excess wax or other debris in them. You can also use eardrops or oil to soften any wax that might be further into your ear canal.
Your doctor may also use a pneumatic otoscope, which has a rubber bulb that can send a puff of air into your ear canal. This allows them to see how your eardrum moves when pressure is applied to it. This can help them diagnose problems like a blockage in the Eustachian tube or if you have fluid behind your eardrum. It’s best to schedule your exam before you get a cold, as this can alter the fluid in your ears.
