We all want to take the best care of ourselves possible. For you, that might look like drinking less caffeine or stretching your shoulder after a long day paddling around Cooks Lake. For others, it could be adding a weekly run into their exercise routine. However you like to practice self-care, it’s essential not to overlook one crucial area: ear hygiene.
Why Should I Care About Ear Hygiene?
Ear hygiene might not be something you think about daily, but it plays a vital role in your health. Taking good care of your ears helps prevent irritation, infection and hearing loss.
Common Causes of Poor Ear Hygiene
There are a few things that can lead to poor ear hygiene:
- Swimmer’s ear
- Middle ear infection
- Earwax blockages
- Water trapped in the ear canal
- Attempting to clean the ears with cotton swabs
How Not To Clean Your Ears
When you think about ear hygiene, it’s probably safe to assume that your mind goes straight to cotton swabs. That’s not your fault. For years, people stuck to the somewhat satisfying practice of swabbing their ears to remove wax.
While it may be tempting to do so, the idea that cotton swabs clean your ear canal is one of the biggest ear care misconceptions. You may get some wax out, but you’re simultaneously shoving the remaining wax deeper into your ear canal, often leading to impaction and muffled hearing. You could even damage the canal or rupture the eardrum.
How To Practice Good Ear Hygiene
There are a few things you can do to keep your ears healthy:
- Avoid swimming in untreated or dirty water to reduce your risk of developing swimmer’s ear and other ear infections
- Clean hearing aids or earbuds regularly to prevent wax buildup and bacterial growth
- Remove trapped water after swimming or bathing by tilting your head to the side and gently tugging your earlobe to help water drain out
- Pat your outer ear dry with a clean towel after swimming or showering
- Seek medical care for persistent infections
- Schedule a professional wax removal if you notice muffled hearing
If you’re worried about your ear hygiene, contact Southeast Texas Ear, Nose & Throat, LLP today.
