Earwax is not a bad thing. In fact, earwax is healthy for ears. It keeps the hearing intact and protect the eardrum from shocking noises. With WHO reporting a whopping 900 million population of people with hearing disability by 2050, it seems plausible to keep earwax close. The truth is however different.
Excessive earwax can be damaging to your ears and can have long-term impacts on your hearing ability too. You should thus be mindful of removing earwax from your ears on a regular basis. In this article, we will be addressing the harmful impacts of excessive earwax and how to deal with it.
- Softening the wax
When earwax becomes excessive, it is important to get it out. Many people use sharp tools to eliminate earwax, which ENT specialists highly discourage. According to many ear specialists, these tools can damage the eardrum and thus cause permanent deafness. The first step in appropriately removing earwax is to soften it. To soften the earwax, you can use any eardrops or warm oil. A precaution for warm oil is that it should not be very hot or it will burn out the sensitive internal structure of the ear. It is thus always better to use eardrops instead of oil.
- Warm Water
The next step in removing excessive earwax is irrigation. Yes, you have to irrigate your whole ear, once the wax has softened up. To accurately perform this step, you will need a bulb syringe and fill it with warm water.
The word warm is the key here. You have to be extra careful that the water, which you are using, is not boiling hot. It should be just above room temperature. Just try the water on your hand and see if you are comfortable with the temperature.
You should be mindful that ears are more sensitive than your skin. Thus, you should always go a few degrees lower than what feels comfortable on your skin. Once the water is ready, fill a syringe up and squirt water in your ear while tilting your head a little so that the water can reach your ear canal. After you are done, just tilt your head on the other side to let the water out. The water will take all the earwax away while it is draining out.
- Drying out
The final step is drying. Just use a towel or a dryer to dry your outer ear and you are good to go. Repeat this activity again if you do not find decent results. However, be mindful if you are suffering from any ear-related problem or pain, and avoid these self-help tips in that scenario.
This article is written with the intention of general awareness and is not substitute of professional advice. Therefore, if you are suffering from a particular medical condition, make sure to visit an ENT specialist and seek professional advice.
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This article was produced in partnership with oladoc.com, a digital health company in Pakistan. Using oladoc, you can find the best dentist in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, and book an appointment online.
