Many of us have heard that old adage, “never put anything smaller than your elbow in your ear.” Unfortunately, too many people don’t heed that advice and use cotton swabs to clean their ears.

However, using cotton swabs can actually be quite dangerous and lead to serious ear and hearing problems. In this article, we will discuss the dangers of cleaning your ears with cotton swabs.

Why Do People Use Cotton Swabs?

Before we dive into the dangers of cleaning your ears with cotton swabs, let’s first explore why people use them in the first place. Many believe that earwax is dirty and needs to be removed.

While it is true that excess earwax can cause discomfort or hearing problems, the ear is designed to clean itself. Earwax naturally migrates out of the ear canal and can be easily wiped away with a washcloth. However, some people don’t like the look or feel of earwax and feel the need to remove it themselves. This is where cotton swabs come in.

They appear to be a quick and easy solution to removing earwax.

The Dangers of Using Cotton Swabs

As mentioned previously, using cotton swabs can lead to serious ear and hearing problems. Here are just a few of the many dangers of using cotton swabs to clean your ears:.

1. Pushing Earwax Further Into the Ear Canal

While it may seem like cotton swabs are removing earwax, they can actually push it further into the ear canal. This can lead to impacted earwax, which can cause hearing loss, pain, and ringing in the ears.

Impacted earwax can also be difficult to remove and may require a visit to an audiologist.

2. Scratching the Ear Canal

Cotton swabs can easily scratch the delicate skin of the ear canal. These microscopic scratches can lead to infections, including swimmer’s ear.

Additionally, any bacteria on the cotton swab can be introduced into the ear canal and cause an infection.

3. Damaging the Eardrum

Using cotton swabs can also lead to a perforated eardrum. The eardrum is a thin membrane that separates the ear canal from the middle ear. It is incredibly delicate and can easily be ruptured.

If you accidentally push the cotton swab too far into the ear canal, you can potentially damage the eardrum.

4. Removing Protective Earwax

Earwax is important for the health of your ears. It acts as a protective barrier, trapping dirt and bacteria before they can reach the eardrum. Additionally, it keeps the skin of the ear canal moisturized.

Removing earwax with cotton swabs can cause the ear canal to become dry and itchy, making it more susceptible to infections.

What Should You Do Instead?

If you feel the need to clean your ears, there are safe and effective ways to do so. Here are some tips:.

Clean the outside of your ears with a washcloth or tissue
Avoid sticking anything inside your ear canal
If you have excess earwax, visit an audiologist to have it safely removed

Summing It Up

Cleaning your ears with cotton swabs may seem harmless, but it can actually be quite dangerous.

Not only can it push earwax further into the ear canal, but it can also scratch the delicate skin of the ear canal, damage the eardrum, and remove important protective earwax. To keep your ears healthy, avoid using cotton swabs and instead opt for safe and effective ear cleaning methods.