Ear Cleaning and Ear Infections: Preventive Measures for Ear Health

Some people believe ear cleaning is necessary for personal hygiene and to prevent infections. However, this is not true. The ear is self-cleaning and can remove dust, dirt and bacteria on its own without any intervention when healthy. Some ear-cleaning interventions can be downright harmful. Using oils and home syringe kits to dislodge unwanted or impacted earwax is not recommended. It can damage the eardrum and lead to infection.

What is Ear Cleaning, and Why is Doing it at Home Dangerous?

Ear cleaning refers to techniques designed to remove earwax – also, called cerumen – from the ear canal and outer ear. Various approaches exist, but you should only get ear cleaning from your audiologist. Attempting to do it yourself at home with techniques learned online or passed down through the generations could be dangerous.

For instance, using ear candles, cotton swabs and other tools to remove earwax from the ears could harm your health in the following ways:

• You may push earwax further into the ear, compacting it further and making it less likely it will flake out naturally.
• You may increase your risk of developing aches, ringing or itching in your ear.
• You may damage the delicate skin that lines the ear canal, leading to bleeding, irritation and itching.
• You may puncture or perforate the eardrum, leading to hearing loss and a much higher risk of infection.
• You could introduce bacteria into your ear canal that increases infection risk.

Ear infections are unpleasant conditions. You may experience fever, earache or pressure, drainage, discharge from the ear or muffled hearing. If the infection reaches the middle ear, you may also experience balance issues, vomiting, nausea or vertigo.

Most ear infections are acute, meaning short-term. They are often cleared with the right medication. Chronic ear infections are those that persist or are resistant to standard treatment. They may require more invasive treatments to resolve.

How to Prevent Ear Infections

Fortunately, there are several ways you can prevent ear infections. Most strategies involve avoiding all ear-cleaning practices except those provided by your audiologist.

Here’s some advice to reduce your risk of infection:

• Don’t put any cotton swabs or other tools in your ear to try to remove earwax.
• Don’t put fingers, pens or other thin objects in your ears. You could scratch the delicate skin that lines the ear canal.
• Avoid using any sprays or drops unless recommended by your doctor.
• Don’t swim in dirty water unless you use earplugs. Bacteria and fungi can enter the ear and cause infection.
• Quit smoking and reduce exposure to second-hand smoke. Smoking can compromise your immune system and make infection more likely.
• Keep your ears dry and clean. If you wear a hearing aid, remove it at night and store it safely.

Preventing ear infections can improve your quality of life tremendously. Following these measures reduce the risk of causing yourself harm and could help you improve your well-being substantially. If in doubt, talk to your audiologist.