The Dos and Don’ts of Ear Cleaning

Feeling the need to clean your ears is very common. Sometimes there’s excess wax in your outer ear, sometimes your ear can feel a bit itchy or irritated, and all you want to do is reach for a cotton bud to take care of things! But before you do, you should understand the dos and don’ts about ear cleanings. If you’re worried about keeping your ears healthy and safe, going for an ear cleaning with an audiologist is the best course of action.

Don’t Use Anything Smaller Than Your Fingertip

You can use a wet wipe to clean the outer ear, but don’t try to insert anything smaller than your fingertip any deeper into the ear. Cotton swabs tend to be the most common tool people use when it comes to cleaning their ears. Using cotton swabs can make an earwax issue even worse by impacting the wax and making it hard to shed naturally. Cotton swabs can also push earwax further into your ear canal, rather than cleaning your ear.

Do Let Earwax Come Out on its Own

You might not think it, but earwax mostly comes out on its own. It moves from where it’s produced in the outer ear towards the most visible part of the ear, where it collects and eventually drains. The movement of your skull, mostly your lower jaw when you’re talking or eating throughout the day, can help earwax to move quickly out of the ear.

Most of the time this will be enough to keep blockages and clogs from appearing. However, if the earwax does become a problem, it’s best to leave it be until you can see an audiologist for a professional ear cleaning. They will be able to clean your ears with the proper tools and making sure that your earwax is not impacted.

Do Visit an Audiologist for an Ear Cleaning

This is the best and only way to deal with an earwax clog, if you suspect you have one. Audiologists can remove earwax quickly and in comfort, usually through a micro suction tool that pulls earwax out after it has been softened. You can soften the wax from home using an ear spray for three to four days before your appointment. Talk to your audiologist to get recommendations on the best sprays to use.

If you’re not sure if you’re dealing with an earwax blockage, you can schedule a hearing test to get a general examination of your hearing done. If you’d like to get your ears cleaned as soon as possible, you can also schedule an ear cleaning directly.  If no wax is found in your ears, your audiologist will be able to advise you on what the cause of your symptoms might otherwise be.

There are a few dos and don’ts involved in ear cleaning. Make sure you’re taking care of your ears properly by following your audiologists’ tips. They will guide you in the right direction when it comes to cleaning your ears.