Many people think there is nothing wrong with using cotton swabs for ear cleaning. Others believe that ear candles are a better option while some individuals never include it in their daily habit because they believe it is bad to clean the inner parts of the ear. With all these confusions about the proper way to clean the ears, it is no wonder why about 15 percent of American adults reported to have hearing problems. Moreover, approximately 25 million Americans experienced tinnitus at one time in their lives. In Tucson, Arizona alone, about one in five people suffers from tinnitus.
Unfortunately, tinnitus is not the only ear problem that one could possibly have. If you do have issues with your hearing, make sure to consult an audiologist in Scottsdale AZ, as the area has been known to have the most skilled ones in the field. Remember that hearing is an essential part of living a quality life. Any problems you have with your ears would affect how you communicate with your friends and loved ones. So, to avoid the occurrence of any hearing problems, take care of your ears. But, how? Check out the following do’s and don’ts.
Do’s
Maintain a clean outer ear.
Our ears are able to self-clean. So, you only need to wipe out the outer ear where the earwax forms and builds up. You may simply use a tissue or a washcloth few times a week. This is a simple process to keep your excess earwax to form near the eardrum.
Wet your ears.
You may feel uncomfortable in getting your ears wet or letting the water in your ears. However, it is safe to say that it is healthy to allow the warm water to enter your ears when you shower or take a bath. It can naturally help in breaking the earwax buildup inside your ears.
Be gentle.
You don’t have to be rough or exert much effort when you clean your ears. Wiping them gently with a washcloth or tissue is enough to get the task done. Daily cleaning is most probably unnecessary because it will only bring you more harm than good.
Don’ts
Never use cotton swabs.
Q-tips or cotton buds is not designed to be inserted into your ear canal. The ear canals are short and yet the cotton swabs are long, it is not safe to put them inside your ear as it can easily knock off tiny bones or puncture your eardrums. Many people think they are efficiently cleaning their ears using Q-tips, but in reality, they are only pushing all the earwax together and deeper inside their ears.
Never ignore ear problems.
If your ears have a bad odor, itches a lot, or painful then you should never ignore it. It could be a symptom of a wax blockage or impaction of your ear canal. Ringing in the ears, feeling plugged-up, or aching of the ears are also signs of potential ear problems. If you have these symptoms, then have your ears checked.
Never make your own ear cleaner.
Many people are tempted to experiment on their ears. Some people may even use a pen or hairpin to remove the earwax. Never do it! It is very dangerous because a slight mistake can bruise your eardrum and worst, tear a hole inside.
Never let ear cleaning mistakes lead you to suffer from hearing problems. Clean your ears properly. Follow the do’s and don’ts mentioned in this article so you’d never have to be deprived of hearing those sweet words spoken by your loved ones.