Earwax may not be the most beautiful thing in the world, but it does serve a useful purpose. Ears produce wax to line and protect the ear canal. The waxy coating hinders bacteria as well as keeps dust, dirt and other particles away from the fragile eardrum. Earwax is only a problem if it builds up enough to block up your ears.
Regular Maintenance
Regularly washing ears with soap and water in the bath or shower is usually the only type of ear cleaning you or your family will need, says the website KidsHealth. Earwax will build up inside the ear, but ears usually make just the right amount of wax necessary. As the ear produces new wax, the old wax moves to the front of the canal and rinses away during regular ear cleaning in the shower or tub. The only time to go above and beyond regular ear maintenance is if the ear wax builds up enough to cause problems.
Problems
Problems with too much ear wax can crop up for a couple of reasons and cause some detrimental side effects, according to MayoClinic.com. Blockage often arises when ears produce an overabundance of ear wax or if you tried to clean out the wax and ended up pushing it deeper into the ear canal. Ear wax blockage can interfere with hearing and can also trap bacteria, leading to infection.
Earwax Removal
Doctors are the best choice for removing ear wax, but MayoClinic.com does offer one home removal method of softening then rinsing out excess ear wax. Drop a few drops of hydrogen peroxide and baby or mineral oil on the wax with an eyedropper twice a day for the five-day period. After about the second day, squirt warm water onto the wax with a rubber ear syringe. Pull the outside of your ear upward and then toward the back of your head to ensure the water penetrates the softened wax. Then tilt your head with the affected ear facing down to drain the water and softened wax. Dry your ear with a soft towel.
Ear Candling
Ear candling is another home remedy for ear wax removal, but both MayoClinic.com and KidsHealth heartily warn against it. Ear candling involves a cone-shaped funnel that is stuck into the ear with a burning candle at the open end. The theory is the candle and funnel will create a vacuum that sucks the earwax out of the ear. Forget it. Not only can ear candling be ineffective, but it can also result in burns, ear drum tears and holes, obstructions and other ear damage.
Warning
No matter what method you choose to remove wax from your ears, both MayoClinic.com and KidsHealth warn of methods you should never try. Sticking anything into your ear to clean out the wax is a major hazard. This includes safety pins, bobby pins, unbent paper clips and cotton swabs. In addition to potentially pushing the wax deeper into the ear canal, you can damage or irritate the ear canal lining, which can lead to later infections, or even puncture the ear drum and permanently impair hearing.
