When cleaning your ears, many people often choose to use cotton buds due to them being a quick and easy solution. However, cotton buds should never actually be inserted into the ear canal as this can cause damage to the ears.
Earwax is a natural substance produced by your body to help keep your ears clean and protected. Its primary function is to stop any dirt and bacteria from entering the ear canal and going deeper. Earwax also has properties to help keep your ears soft and avoid them become dry and itchy. Earwax is mostly self clearing and will often fall out from your ears naturally without the need of any intervention. Simple jaw movements such as when your talk or chew food will help the earwax fall out on its own.
Inserting objects into your ears such as cotton buds will often push the earwax deeper inside and cause your ears to become blocked. This can then lead to other issues such as pain, hearing loss and in some cases, even an ear infection. Using cotton buds puts you at risk of injuring your ears as it can pack wax deep into the ear and irritate your ear canal or even damage your eardrum.
The best way to look after your ears is simply by leaving them alone. Your body will naturally help to remove wax from your ears over time without the need of any intervention. However, if you suffer from troublesome earwax then it’s best to speak to a healthcare professional who can suggest other alternative, safer methods to clean your ears.
