Did you know that your ears are self-cleaning? That’s right, your ears usually take care of themselves when it comes to earwax. The wax, known as cerumen, dries up, becomes flaky, and falls out of the ear on its own. Earwax is needed to help your ear function properly and even has beneficial properties that can help prevent an infection in your ear.

However, some people produce more earwax than they need. So for some of us, periodic ear cleaning may be needed. Earwax really only needs to be removed from the ear if it is causing a problem, such as decreased hearing, discomfort in the ear, a feeling of fullness, or a blockage.

Be Careful Using Cotton-tipped Swabs

Many people like to clean their ears using cotton-tipped swabs. Unfortunately, this often causes problems because the swab just pushes the wax back into the ear. This can totally block up the ear and even cause a trip to the doctor’s office. So only use a cotton swab on the outside of the ear, not inside the ear canal. Some other problems that can be caused by using cotton swabs include:

• Decreased or muffled hearing
• Trapped water behind the earwax leading to swimmer’s ear
• Itchy or painful ear canals (due to not enough wax)
• Bleeding or damaged eardrums if the swab goes too far in

Cleaning Your Ears

The best way to clean your ears is to use a damp washcloth to gently clean the outside of the ear. Avoid cleaning inside the ear canal. If excess wax is causing a problem, placing just a few drops of water inside the ear will often help soften the wax and allow it to be removed naturally.

For more stubborn wax, you can use ear drops that contain 6.5% carbamide peroxide. This softens the earwax using a gentle foaming action. A rubber bulb syringe filled with water can be used afterward to flush out any remaining wax. If you tend to have recurring earwax problems, try putting a small amount of baby oil or mineral oil in your ear. This can help keep the earwax soft so it comes out more easily.

Be careful not to use any ear drops if you have a hole in your eardrum, have ear tubes, or if you recently had ear surgery. You should also stop using drops if they cause pain, burning, dizziness, or if fluid is draining from your ear.

It goes without saying that you should never put anything inside your ear canal. This includes cotton swabs, pencils, paper clips, or hairpins. These items can push wax deeper into your ear and may cause damage, including hearing loss.

When to See a Medical Professional

Don’t ignore problems with your ears. You should see a doctor if your ears feel blocked, if you have trouble hearing, or if you feel pain. Other warning signs include ringing in your ears, itching, or fluid coming out of the ear.

If you are having trouble removing earwax on your own, your medical provider can safely remove it. They can flush your ear with water or use special tools to take the wax out. This is the safest way to clean your ears without causing harm.

Good hearing starts with taking good care of your ears. So be sure to follow the steps above for ear cleaning and contact your doctor’s office if you have any issues with your ears.