Should You Clean Your Ears?

In answer to the question, the answer is generally no. Despite the build-up of wax in your ears, you often don’t need to clean your ears yourself. So, you don’t need to stick something in your ears, and you probably don’t need to bother with an over-the-counter ear cleaning kit either.

Ears are self-cleaning

While you might be shaking your head in disbelief, especially after noticing a build-up of wax in your ears, it is true to say that ears clean themselves. A typical person could live a complete life without cleaning their ears at all!

Your ears build-up wax over time, and as new wax is produced, the older wax is pushed to the surface of your ears. This dries up and becomes flaky, and disappears from your ears without the need for your intervention. It’s a natural process, and one that is hurried along whenever you cause vibrations in your ear, such as when you talk, chew or yawn.

Of course, you might not feel as if your ears are clean when you have a build-up of wax within. However, your ears are cleaner because of your earwax. This is because it contains both antibacterial and antifungal properties that can protect your ears from bacteria and infection. Earwax also acts as a barrier for dirt, dust, pollen and other small particles that could cause disruption within your ear canal. When new wax is produced, the grime is pushed out along with the older wax that flakes away from your ears.

The best way to clean your ears

There are occasions when you might need to have your ears cleaned out. If an excess of wax has built-up within your ears, and you are experiencing pain or hearing loss as a consequence, then you will need to have that wax removed. However, as we suggested at the beginning, you could damage your ears if you tried to clean them yourself. While some over-the-counter remedies are useful, there are other methods, including ear candling and the use of cotton swabs, that could cause damage to your ears.

Rather than putting yourself at risk, it is a good idea to book an appointment with a hearing health professional. They will determine the causes behind your earwax problem and will clean your ears using specialist equipment. In some cases, they might pick up on other issues related to your ear-health, so seeking their assistance early is better than postponing a visit because you have found your own way to clean your ears.

Do you need to clean your ears? Not usually, because as we said, your ears are self-cleaning. But even when your ears do need to be cleaned, you shouldn’t risk cleaning them on your own. You could damage your ear canal, and you might even puncture your eardrums, so your first port of call should be a hearing specialist who will professionally clean your ears for you.