Do you use cotton swabs a lot? Then you should read this!

You’ve probably used a cotton swab in moments when it felt like your ear was full of earwax countless times. Yet it’s better to wait a while before sticking a swab like that in your ear. Here are three reasons why.

Sure, earwax is annoying, but a cotton swab isn’t always the right solution.

1. Earwax is there for a reason

Earwax might seem a little dirty, but it definitely has a function. Earwax is a very normal and natural phenomenon that protects your ears against dirt, dust, bacteria and moisture. Besides that, it also makes sure the thin skin of your ear canal doesn’t dry out. So, when you notice there’s earwax in your ear, you don’t have to remove it right away. However, when earwax gets old and dries out, it can feel a little irritating. It’s also possible that the earwax will build up and you end up with a lump of it in your ear.

2. Cotton swabs are dangerous

When you have some earwax in your outer ear, it’s fine to remove it with a cotton swab. But if the earwax resides deeper inside the ear, in the ear canal, you really shouldn’t use a cotton swab. If you enter your ear canal with a cotton swab, there’s a chance you damage the vulnerable skin inside it. Plus, if you try cleaning your ear with a cotton swab, you will actually be pushing the earwax deeper into the ear instead of removing it. Besides that, the ear is self-cleaning, which makes messing about with cotton swabs wholly unnecessary.

3. Ear spray

If you have an excess of earwax, the best thing to do is to get busy with ear spray. Ear spray softens the earwax which enables it to get itself out of your ear on its own. Plus, the ear spray won’t damage the thin skin inside your ear canal. Another advantage: if you use ear spray, it’s no longer possible for a lump of wax to develop inside your ear.

Read more: Fact or fable: rinsing with mouth water does more harm than good

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Source: Margriet | Image: Pixabay