Many people use cotton swabs to clean earwax from their ears, but this habit can cause injury to your eardrum and lead to ear infections and tinnitus. Earwax is not a sign of poor hygiene; rather, it is a natural byproduct that plays an important role in hearing health by protecting the lining of the ear canal and preventing dirt and dust from reaching the eardrum.
Problems occur when impacted earwax blocks the ear canal. When cleaning your ears, the most important rule is to never insert anything into the canal. In fact, one type of home remedy—ear candling or coning—does not work, and can actually lead to burns, ear canal blockage, and perforated eardrums. If you are concerned about excess earwax, your hearing aids should be cleaned with a wax pick and brush, and you should take them in for periodic “clean and check” appointments.
