5 Common Ear Cleaning Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

In a recent study, over 98% of participants claimed to engage in some form of ear-cleaning practices.

It’s great so many people want to clean one of the smallest parts of our bodies. However, common ear cleaning mistakes can lead to big problems.

Keep reading to find out what these mistakes are and how to avoid them.

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   Using Cotton Swabs

Cotton swabs are kind of like small soft Swiss Army knives for personal grooming and cleaning. They can be applied in several areas without causing a lot of pains or problems.

But don’t insert cotton swabs into your ears.

Yes, the size is perfect for an ear canal, but don’t put it there. Cotton swabs may push ear wax or other dirt further into your ear. If you push hard enough, your eardrum may rupture.

A ruptured eardrum can lead to an infection or permanent hearing loss.

2. Using Objects With Points

Most objects should not enter your ears period especially if they have a sharp point. Objects such as pencils, paper clips, pens, keys, and fingernails should all stay out of your ears.

Besides puncturing and damaging your ears, another concern is the foreign agents on these surfaces getting inside your body.

3. Candling

You might have a friend who promises that candling works to draw out dirt and ear wax. The truth is that candling never works and poses more danger than anything.

Candling involves putting a hollow candle into the ear while a person lies on their side. The candle is lit, and the heat is supposed to suction wax out of your ear.

Unfortunately, this doesn’t work and poses a huge safety risk. You run the risk of having hot wax fall into your ear, debris can also get inside, and you could catch on fire if the flame isn’t monitored.

4. Regular Ear Cleaning

Believe it or not, you shouldn’t clean your ear regularly. The human body self-cleans the ears. No other part of the body has skin growth in one direction to aid the process of cleaning.

Any jaw movements help push dead skin and old wax to the outside of the ear.

Some people like to clean their ears to get rid of that orange slime deep in the ear. Remember, earwax is a natural lubricant called cerumen. It’s also there to help kill bacteria or other foreign agents that could get into your ears.

5. Syringe

For big build-ups, people often turn to syringes to help flush the ear and remove debris. This can be safely accomplished with the help of a friend or loved one.

If you try to do this on your own, you may get a swimmer’s ear as a result. Learn more about wax extraction in this post.

Avoid These Ear Cleaning Mistakes and Stay Healthy

Think about your comfort and hearing when avoiding ear cleaning mistakes. Ears are a small part of the body that can become a giant headache if not properly attended to.

When in doubt, seek the advice of a physician who is trained to handle your ears.

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