Should i use cotton buds

Wong: Several home-care earwax systems use a gentle liquid in a syringe to flush out the ear canal. While generally safe to use, these home-care systems sometimes cause earwax to melt, and then residual earwax can re-solidify inside the ear canal like cement against the ear drum.

Such cases require careful removal by an ear, nose, and throat ENT provider. In our ENT office, we use a magnifying scope and tiny micro-instruments to gently peel the earwax away from the ear drum without damaging the underlying structures.

Our ENT physicians and physician assistants are trained to locate and remove earwax safely. Skip to content. Is it really dangerous to clean ears with cotton swabs? Are the rumors true? Is it actually dangerous to use cotton swabs in our ears? And if so, what are we supposed to do instead?

Q: Can I use cotton swabs to clean my ears? Wong: No! Q: What if I only use cotton swabs in the outer part of my ears? Q: So what's the best way to remove earwax? Q: What about the earwax removal products I see at the pharmacy? Avoid using cotton buds to clean your ears at all costs to protect your hearing, health and the environment. The risks far outweigh the benefits. If you experience any pain, bleeding or hearing loss after cleaning your ears at home, you should see a doctor immediately.

We suggest leaving those ears in peace. Put that cotton bud down! Other ways to clear your ears. August 13, by Elizabeth Linsdell. The contentious cotton bud has been a household staple since , but it was never invented with the intention of cleaning ears. Although manufacturers explicitly warn against using them to clean your ears this has become their most common use.

If you feel like you need to scratch that itch when it comes to feeling clean, here are some alternative options: 1. Tissue Twirls Like cotton buds but much safer!

Impacted wax can cause earache, a sense of the ear having a plug in it, hearing loss or ringing in the ears. But cotton buds will still only make things worse. About 1 in 10 injured their ears, cutting the ear canal or perforating the eardrum. Even more dangerous is ear candling ; putting a hollow candle into the ear that is burning at one end risks serious injuries such as hearing loss, ear canal burns and hair fires.

If you are unlucky enough to have wax blocking your ear then check the diagnosis at your doctors. You will need eardrops to soften the wax.