What is ear wax and how do you get rid of it? Ear wax, also known as cerumen, is your ear’s defense against foreign objects. Having some wax in your ear canals is a good thing, too much is not! Too much wax can become impacted and may cause hearing loss, tinnitus, and even dizziness. If you wear hearing aids, too much wax can make your hearing aids squeal or buzz.
When you see your primary care doctor, ask them to check your ears for wax. If you wear hearing aids, be sure to tell them that ANY amount of wax can cause problems with your hearing aids, and to please remove any wax. The easiest way to manage the wax is to stay ahead of it!
Can you clean your ears yourself at home? Maybe! Let’s talk about what NOT to do. Do not use cotton swabs. You push more down in the ear than you get out. You can also cause bruising and bleeding because the skin in the ear is very fragile. Likewise, no hair pins, curettes, or other do it yourself tools you can order online. You cannot see what you are doing and can cause more damage than good. Ear candling has been touted as a holistic approach to ear cleaning. There is no scientific evidence to prove that ear candles work and there are documented cases of damage caused by ear candling.
If you do not have any history of eardrum perforations and if it does not bother you to get water in your ears in the shower, there are things you can do at home. The safest way to clean your ears at home is by gently flushing your ears. There are kits you can purchase at the drugstore such as Debrox or Murine that come with a bulb to flush your ears. They also include an oily solution to put in and soften the wax. You can always discuss this with your primary care physician or audiologist.
If you have any further questions, please reach out to Gardner Audiology at 800-277-1182 or email info@gardneraudiology.com. To schedule an appointment with us online, click here!
