It seems that everybody has their own special process with their earwax. In many cases, people are just doing what they were told by their parents, who in turn were only doing what they were told by their parents. Alas, while earwax might not sound like a big deal when it comes to your overall health, that’s not the case. It can be critically important to the overall health of your ear. In this blog, we’re going to run through some of the top earwax dos and don’ts. Take a read, and make sure that you’re following our tips to ensure that your ears are kept in tip-top condition.
Do: Know That’s Normal
Some people do everything they can to get earwax out of their ear. But here’s the thing that you need to remember earwax is normal! And not only that, but it’s important to the overall health of your ear, too. You only need to get rid of earwax when it’s causing a problem. If you’re getting no symptoms and your earwax isn’t blocking the ear canal, then don’t stress about it too much.
Don’t: Clean Your Ears Too Much
Of course, understanding that some earwax is normal doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t clean your ears. It’s a good practice to keep your ears clean, just as part of your overall grooming process, if nothing else. However, remember that there is such a thing as overcleaning your ears. If you’re going too hard with your ears, then you could end up disturbing your ear canal, causing infection or other problems. So, make sure to be super gentle and only stick to the outside part of the ear, rather than trying to dive too deep.
Do: Learn Symptoms Of Earwax Blocking
While some levels of earwax are normal, it’s important that things don’t get out of hand. If you have too much earwax in your ears, then your ears may become blocked. If this happens, then you’ll likely notice one of more of the classic earwax blocking symptoms. These include decreased hearing, feeling that your ears are full, tinnitus or issues with your hearing aid, if you wear one. These symptoms can seem scary, but they should go away once the issue with the earwax has been removed. However, remember that that won’t happen on its own. You’ll need to work with an ear specialist.
Don’t: Use Ear Candles
A popular home method for getting rid of excess earwax is to use ear candles. However, it’s important to remember that this is not an effective method. In fact, it’s highly ineffective, and what’s more, it could end up doing a lot of harm if you’re not careful. The wax that people see at the end of ear candles is just wax from the candle itself, nothing more. The best-case scenario is that nothing happens. The worst-case scenario is that you do long-term damage to your ear canal or eardrum.
Do: Seek Help If Hearing Is Compromised
Sometimes people can become a little passive about their hearing, especially if they think it’s just due to earwax. However, unless you’re one hundred percent sure that your hearing issues are due to earwax, then it’s important that you seek help. The issue could be caused by any number of reasons. Hopefully it’ll be nothing, but it’ll be best if your hearing is assessed by a professional.
Don’t: Ignore Issues
There are some effective home remedies for managing earwax issues. However, it’s important that you stay smart. If the remedies aren’t working, and the problems don’t seem to be getting any better, then you might need to get the help of a professional. Problems usually get worse if they’re not treated promptly. An audiologist will know the right approach to take. Don’t take any chances!
And there we have it! If you follow those tips, then you shouldn’t run into too many problems with your earwax. However, if you have any concerns about your earwax or indeed any other part of your ear health or hearing, then it’s important that you book an appointment with an audiologist.
Here at Kampsen Hearing, we offer a range of services that’ll ensure that your overall ear health is kept in good condition. If you’re ready to book an appointment, then be sure to give us a call at (813) 369-5692 or click the contact us button at the top of the page. We look forward to seeing you!