Our ears produce earwax to help protect the ear canal from water and infection. If your ears produce more wax that necessary, you can remove it although you don’t have to. If you do choose to remove the excess ear wax, please read on to learn about at-home earwax removal and what you need to know to do it safely. If you have any questions about earwax removal or aren’t sure if you have a problem, contact your hearing professional to schedule an appointment.
How to Safely Remove Ear Wax Yourself
It is important to remember that unless your earwax is blocking your ear canal or causing a problem, the the American Academy of Otolaryngology (AAO) recommends that you just leave it alone. If you feel the need to remove excess earwax, the safest way to do so is to use an ear dropper that you can find at a drugstore. Drop in one of the following:
- A few drops of hydrogen peroxide.
- A 1 to 1 ratio of water and vinegar.
- Warm salt water.
- Baby oil.
- Equal parts white vinegar and rubbing alcohol.
- Warm water.
- Warm olive oil.
What Not to Use for Earwax Removal
You have probably heard this before, but Q-tips are not to be used for earwax removal. They are actually too big for your ear canal, can damage your ears, and can even push the earwax further in rather than removing it. Another popular but dangerous new age method of trying to remove earwax is through a technique called candling. This method uses a hollowed out cone shaped candle to try to remove earwax. It is supposed to create a vacuum seal in the ear and the earwax will adhere to the heated candle and come out. As you can imagine, this is a dangerous plan that can often result in burns, canal obstructions, or even worse ear damage. Please do not try either of these methods to remove earwax.
If you are unsure about safely removing earwax, your doctor or hearing care professional can remove it using a special tool. Again, remember that in most cases, you don’t need to remove excess earwax. The only situations where you need to remove earwax is if it is causing a blockage or hearing loss. If you are worried about a problem or experiencing pain, contact your doctor or hearing care professional.
Consult with the Hearing Experts at Kenwood Hearing Center
We help you deal with hearing loss during all aspects of your life and we are also here to help ensure that your hearing health can be the best it can be. Please contact us today and schedule an appointment. The experts at Kenwood Hearing Center are here for you to help you with not only hearing loss, but your overall ear health.