When I wake up in the morning, I go through the same routine to stay clean and fresh for the day ahead.
If your morning routine includes using cotton swabs to clean out your ears, though, it might be time to change things up. So many people love the feeling of clearing wax out with a Q-Tip, but it may do more harm than good. You could even wind up with serious injuries that will impact your hearing for years to come.
Using cotton swabs can irritate the ear canal, cause infection, and even create more wax buildup in your ear.
If that doesn't scare you, there are even worse results, including possible cuts to the ear canal, holes in the eardrum, or dislocating tiny bones in the ear.
If that doesn't scare you, there are even worse results, including possible cuts to the ear canal, holes in the eardrum, or dislocating tiny bones in the ear.
The American Academy of Otolaryngology says it's important to remember that our ears are self-cleaning. That means that the wax in your ear canal is supposed to be there to protect it from bacteria. All you need to do to stay clean is wipe the outer portion of the ear.
Dr Seth Schwartz said, "The problem is that this effort to eliminate earwax is only creating further issues because the earwax is just getting pushed down and impacted further into the ear canal."
"Anything that fits in the ear could cause serious harm to the ear drum and canal with the potential for temporary or even permanent damage."
What should you do if you feel you have excessive wax in your ears? Talk to your doctor. They can help correct the problem, or, if necessary, remove the wax safely.
It might be difficult to get used to the change at first, but in the long run, your ears will be healthier. SHARE this with others so they can keep their ears safe, too!
