Using cotton buds to clean ear wax is very common. The problem is that cotton buds do far more harm than good, and at Moor Hearing we see the results of this habit every week at our clinics in Plymouth and Tavistock.
What cotton buds actually do
Your ears are designed to clean themselves. Ear wax is not dirt. It traps dust, slows bacteria and protects the delicate skin of the ear canal. When you push a cotton bud inside, you remove a little wax from the opening but push the rest deeper toward the eardrum. Over time that packed wax hardens into a blockage.
That blockage is the very thing people are trying to avoid. It can cause muffled hearing, earache, a feeling of fullness, ringing in the ears and even dizziness. If any of these sound familiar, our guide on the common signs of an ear wax blockage is worth a read.
There is a physical risk too. The ear canal is thin and sensitive, and the eardrum sits only a few centimetres in. A slip, a knock or a sudden movement while the bud is in your ear can scratch the canal or perforate the eardrum. These injuries are painful and can take weeks to heal.
What to do instead
For most people, the best approach is to leave your ears alone. Wax works its way out naturally as you talk, chew and move your jaw. To clean the outer ear, simply wipe around it with a warm, damp flannel.
If you are prone to build-up, a few drops of olive oil or a pharmacy ear drop two or three times a week can soften wax and help it clear on its own. Avoid ear candling, which has no proven benefit and carries a real burn risk.
When wax has already built up, the safest option is professional removal rather than poking at it yourself. Our ear wax removal service uses microsuction, a gentle method that lifts wax out with a fine suction device under clear magnification. There is no water flushed into the ear and no instrument pushing wax deeper. Most appointments take around twenty minutes, and you walk out hearing clearly again.
When to book an appointment
See a professional if you have ongoing earache, reduced hearing, ringing, or a sensation that your ear is plugged. These can be caused by wax, but they can also point to something that needs a closer look, which is why a hearing assessment is often a sensible next step.
If you are in Plymouth, Tavistock or the surrounding West Devon area, put the cotton buds down and let us help. Contact Moor Hearing to book safe, professional ear wax removal, either at our clinic or in the comfort of your own home.
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