Everyone has ear wax, and it's necessary as it keeps our ears safe and healthy. Ear wax may seem like a disgusting sticky substance, but it's a natural substance that the outer ear canal glands produce to help trap dust and particles so they don't reach inside the eardrum. However, when you get excessive wax buildup, this may cause an infection, and at that point, an ear wax treatment is required.
What Causes Wax Buildup?
Before exploring various ways of removing excess wax from the ears, it's vital to understand what causes this.
Putting small objects in your ears that may include the following:
- Hearing aids
- Headphones
- Cotton swabs
- Hairpins
- Q-tips
So, if you can avoid sticking these in your ears, it might help from getting the excessive wax.
When someone tries to remove the wax with the cotton swab, which becomes a failed attempt, the wax tends to spread. And sometimes, the buildup may occur on its own for individuals who produce excess wax than others.
Best Ways To Remove Ear Wax
We have various products and aids that individuals can use to remove excessive wax or ear wax treatment. These include:
- Over-the-counter drops
- Hydrogen peroxide
- Baby oil
- Mineral water
- Irrigation kits that include a bulb syringe.
Refrain from using any of the above if:
- You have an ear infection.
- You had ear surgery or a perforated eardrum.
- Using any liquids mentioned may worsen the blockage if you have a partially blocked ear if it gets caught up between the wax and eardrum.
- You feel pain while removing the wax. That could signify a perforated eardrum, and it's prudent to seek professional ear wax treatment.
Also, take care of your ears by refraining from pushing objects in your ears and visiting an ear specialist when you feel like you have a problem. In that case, a doctor can use an otoscope (an instrument that magnifies your inner ear) to see if you have an earwax blockage.
Professional Treatment
After determining you have excess wax, a specialist will use a curet (a unique curved device) or suction while inspecting your ear. He can also opt to flush out the wax using a water pick or a bulb syringe with warm water.
NB: when using hydrogen peroxide, it tends to turn into water when the oxygen bubbles off. The risk here is; that moisture gets to the ear canal and becomes prone to bacteria.
Another caution is the use of ear candling. The research found that ear candling may result in injuries, such as ear canal obstructions, burns, and perforations. And this may pose some risks, and we don't recommend using it.
In Conclusion
While we have several safe ways of removing wax from home, as mentioned above, ensure to seek professional ear wax treatment whenever necessary. Your primary health care may recommend a specialist for you when you need one. But if you can avoid inserting objects in your ears, that should prevent the wax buildup. It's always better to prevent infection than treatment.
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