Prolonged exposure to water taxes the human ear's defense mechanisms and makes your ears vulnerable to bacterial infection, particularly if you swim in lakes or other natural bodies of water. Ear plugs help to protect against such infections, but Silly Putty is not a safe substitute for commercially available swimmer's ear plugs.
Natural Defenses
The human ear has an impressive defense system to protect it from bacterial invasion. A fine coating of cerumen, known as ear wax, coats the inside of the ear canal and repels water. This substance is mildly acidic, which creates an unfriendly surface for bacterial growth. Because cerumen is sticky, it traps dirt and dead skin cells and gently moves them to the entrance of your ear canal. The shape of the ear helps in this process because the canal slopes downward, which takes advantage of gravity to help move dirt-laden wax clumps and water out of the ear.
Why Wear Ear Plugs?
Prolonged contact with water dilutes the protective coating of wax in your ear, which makes you vulnerable to otis externa, or swimmer's ear -- a bacterial infection of the outer ear canal. Even if you're not in the water for a long time, residual moisture can remain in your ear after swimming. Ear plugs prevent water from entering your ear canal so that bacteria don't get the moisture they need to survive and multiply. If you swim in a lake or a pond, ear plugs are especially important to keep microorganisms that live in this water out of your ear.
Silly Putty
Some do-it-yourself information sites laud Silly Putty as a homemade ear plug, but this substance makes a poor and even dangerous substitute for swimmer's ear plugs. Silly Putty manufacturer Crayola warns that the putty softens when exposed to body heat, so it will not maintain its shape inside your ear. When you swim, the force of the water against your ear and the change in atmospheric pressure can push the putty into the ear canal, possibly as far as the ear drum, where it could cause damage.
Precautions
Ear plugs can become a medium for bacterial growth after repeated use. Change your ear plugs every two weeks and clean them with alcohol after each use to kill any bacteria that have collected on the surface. See a doctor if you experience itching, redness, pain or ringing in your ear, or if you see discharge from your ear. Swimmer's ear usually responds well to treatment with ear drops, but the condition can worsen and you could develop a serious infection if you leave it untreated.
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