Our ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialists at ENT Instruments of Alabama can assist patients who are experiencing a buildup of earwax, difficulties with hearing, or pain in the ear. We have specialists who can treat a wide variety of problems relating to the nares and the throat. It is very common to keep cotton swabs, such as Q-tips, in the bathroom so that you can clean out your ears, and many people believe that this is a necessary task. However, this activity carries a significant risk, despite its prevalence.
The American Academy of Otolaryngology warns that there is a significant risk of injury to the eardrum and the ear bones if you use cotton-tipped swabs or any other home instruments to clean your ears. It is possible to inadvertently cause damage to your ears when you use cotton swabs, and the most common cause of eardrum rupture is trauma caused by something similar to this.
Potential Risks Associated With ENT Instruments
When you clean your ears at home with cotton swabs or other ENT Instruments, you put yourself at risk for some serious complications, including the following:
Injury to the tympanic membrane:
Injury to the ear is the most common cause of eardrum rupture, which typically occurs as a result of attempting to clean the ear at home with cotton swabs or other ENT instruments, which can cause the eardrum to rupture. This causes discomfort and has the potential to cause permanent hearing loss as well as infections.
Infection:
When you insert a cotton swab into your ear, you run the risk of introducing bacteria, dust, and dirt into your ear, which can result in an ear infection.
Pain:
If your eardrum is not completely ruptured, you still run the risk of causing damage such as scratches and inflammation. Cotton swabs also tend to push wax further into the ear canal, which will make the discomfort significantly worse.
Getting information:
Cotton material that is on swabs has the potential to become lodged and stuck in the ear. Hearing loss, infections, and discomfort are some of the other potential outcomes of this. A trip to the doctor’s office is almost certainly going to be require to have it removed.
At ENT Instruments, we will be able to assist you in resolving these problems in the most effective way possible. We can look into your ear and remove wax in a safe manner, which is always the recommended course of action. Continue reading to find out more!
Earwax Removal with Q-Tips
Earwax can be an annoyance, that much is certain. Hearing loss, itchiness, dizziness, and other uncomfortable symptoms have been link to excessive earwax in some people. On the other hand, you do not need to clean out your ears regularly. Earwax is generally considered to be beneficial and even protective for the ear, especially in most cases. Earwax acts as a barrier that prevents infections, dry skin, and the buildup of dirt and debris that isn’t wanted.
How frequently should I remove the earwax that has built up in my ears?
Earwax removal is not typically necessary for the vast majority of people regularly. Earwax is responsible for “self-cleaning” our ears because it collects dirt and debris and then slowly pushes it out of the ear. In this location, it dries out and falls out by itself. This helps to prevent infection as well as particles from getting into our ears and helps prevent them from getting dirty.
What gives me a reason to be so concerned about my eardrum?
You won’t have any trouble getting to your eardrum if you use a cotton swab. But because the eardrum is so fragile, it can easily be ruptur with even gentle pressure from a swab. This is because the eardrum of a thin membrane. The pain is excruciating, and there is a possibility that clear fluid will leak from the ear. Even though a punctured eardrum will eventually heal, the process can be time-consuming and may even cause conductive hearing loss.
What is the best way to clean my ears?
As was just pointed out, your ear is capable of doing a good job of cleaning itself on its own. In the vast majority of instances, the ear canal does not require any sort of cleaning. When you wash your hair or take a shower regularly, sufficient water enters the ear canal. This causes the wax that has accumulated there to become more pliable, and it eventually falls out. independently during the time that you are sleeping. If you would like to clean your outer ear, which is also referred to as the pinna, on occasion you can do so by utilizing a small amount of soap, some water, and a washcloth while you are in the shower. Be very gentle.