Ear Cleaning - Maintain Healthy Ears

Proper ear cleaning practices help remove excess wax and debris to promote ear hygiene and health.
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Ear Hygiene | Ear Care Practices | Ear Cleaning Techniques | Ear Wax Removal
Prepared by Shruti Sahoo, reviewed by Dr. Eugene Smith

Ear Cleaning FAQ


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Why do I feel tempted to clean my ears?

The reason we feel tempted to clean our ears is because of that substance called cerumen, commonly called earwax. It’s normal for your body to produce it, and it actually helps protect and lubricate your ears. If you didn’t have earwax, your ears would probably be itchy and dry.

How do you use ear cleaning drops?

Look for drops that contain hydrogen peroxide or other kinds of peroxide. The peroxide does a good job of breaking up earwax. Here’s how to use ear cleaning drops: Lay sideways: Make sure the ear you’re cleaning faces up and add the drops as directed. Let it sit: Allow the cleaning solution to sit in your ear for around five minutes.

Are ear cleaning tools safe?

There’s a wide range of ear cleaning tools on the market, including kits that contain an ear-wax softener or cleaning spray and syringe. But Karen says implements that go into the ear canal such as picks, spiral devices and ear-cleaning cameras are not safe. What about ear candling?

Why is ear cleaning important?

Here are some reasons why ear cleaning is important: Prevention of Infections: Earwax (cerumen) naturally forms in the ear canal and helps to protect the ears by trapping dust, bacteria, and other foreign particles. However, an excessive buildup of earwax can lead to infections. Regular cleaning can help prevent these infections. Improved Hearing:

Do you need to clean your ear?

Your ears usually do a good job cleaning themselves and don’t need any extra care. The only reason you should clean them is to soften or remove earwax from the outside of your ear canals. And if you’re going to do that, you’ll need to know how to do it carefully.

How to clean your ear at home?

If a person still wishes to clean their ears at home, they can try one of the following methods: A person can wet a cloth or paper towel with lukewarm water. After wringing out the excess, they can use the cloth to clean the outer areas of the ear. It is never a good idea to insert an object into the ear.

Ear Cleaning References

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