You probably didn’t think much about how to clean your ears until you found out that many people struggle with the problem of excess wax. It is not a pleasant experience to have your ears filled with wax, but it is something that could happen to anyone at any time. Fortunately, there are several ways you can get rid of excess wax without seeing a doctor or asking someone else to do it for you. Keeping your ears clean doesn’t take much time or effort, and it will keep you from struggling with excess wax in the future. Here are some easy tips on how to clean your ears that will help keep them healthy and prevent issues in the future.
How To Clean Your Ears With Ear Wax
The first thing that you should do if you find yourself with excess ear wax is not to reach for the cotton swab. In fact, using a cotton swab can actually push the wax further in your ear canal and make the problem worse.
The ear is packed with tiny delicate tunnels, which can quickly become clogged with dirt and oil. Keeping your ears clean not only prevents you from developing infections or other problems, but also helps keep your sense of smell stronger by preventing build up of excess oils and dead skin. Unfortunately, there’s no magical concoction to keep your ears spick and span. However, there are various ways in which you can safely and effectively clean your ears on a regular basis. Here we take a look at some of the methods that will help keep those ears fresh and clean…
Flushing Method
Flushing your ears with hydrogen peroxide can kill bacteria and help to prevent ear infections. This method works best if you have excess wax in your ears or are suffering from a mild ear infection. Flushing your ears can also be a helpful and safe way of loosening a build up of earwax if you are pregnant or have children with small ear canals. The best way to do this is to place a warm towel over your ears for a few minutes. This will soften the wax and make it easier to flush out. Using a syringe, draw up a small amount of hydrogen peroxide and carefully squirt it into your ear canal. Massage the surrounding tissue to ensure the solution reaches the entire ear canal. You can expect to feel a slight pressure in your ear as the solution travels through it. Be careful not to push too hard while massaging the ear, or you risk pushing dirt further into your ear.
Dry Ear Cleansing
Dry ear cleansing can be a helpful way of removing excess oils and dust from your ears when they are not overly dirty. In order to do this, you can either use a small soft brush or a small piece of cotton wool. Dip the ear cleansing tool in a little rubbing alcohol to sterilize it, before carefully brushing around the ear canal. You can also pour a small amount of rubbing alcohol into your ear canal and gently massage the surrounding ear tissue – again, be careful not to push too hard. You can repeat this process for both ears.
Salt Solution Cleansing
If you are experiencing an ear infection or have a build up of wax in your ears, you can use a salt solution to clean your ears. This solution works by drawing water out of the surrounding tissue, making it easier to remove a thick build up of earwax. The solution is simple, consisting of one cup of warm water and half a teaspoon of salt. You should then slowly tilt your head to one side and use a small syringe to squirt the solution into your ear canal. You can also try pouring the solution into a small dropper and slowly applying it to your ear canal. Dry your ear out by gently patting it with a clean towel.
Baby Or Mineral Oil Cleansing
Baby or mineral oil can be used to clean your ears if you suffer from excess earwax buildup. Firstly, you should be sure there is enough wax in your ears to require cleaning. A good way to check this is to put your ear to your shoulder while taking a shower or in a warm bath. This will cause the earwax to loosen and make it easier to remove. This method has to be done slowly and carefully, and ideally only when you are not experiencing any pain in your ears. Wait until you have finished showering or bathing, and the ears have dried out. Wait until there is enough wax to work with. When you notice the wax is starting to build up and become hard, you can use a clean dropper to slowly place a few drops of oil into each ear.
Baking Soda Cleansing
Baking soda can also be used to clean your ears. This works well if you suffer from infections or have a lot of wax buildup in your ears. Baking soda can also be used to help prevent swimmer’s ear if you are planning to spend a lot of time in water. You can mix a small amount of baking soda with a few drops of water to create a thick paste. Using a clean dropper, apply the paste to your ear canal. Wait until the baking soda has dried out, and then clean your ear with a dry cloth.
Conclusion
Cleaning your ears is an important part of taking care of yourself. It can help prevent infections and keep your sense of smell stronger. There are various ways you can safely clean your ears. You can flush them with hydrogen peroxide, use a salt solution, apply baking soda, or use one of the other methods described above. By regularly cleaning your ears, you can keep them healthy and prevent infections. However, it is important to remember that you should only clean your ears when they are dirty and use a gentle method. You should never use cotton swabs or other cleaning tools to try and clean your ears if they are not clogged with wax or dirt as this can damage and injure your ear canal.