{"id":7202,"date":"2025-01-21T04:18:33","date_gmt":"2025-01-21T04:18:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/momentsunfolded.com\/?p=7202"},"modified":"2025-01-21T04:18:42","modified_gmt":"2025-01-21T04:18:42","slug":"doctor-explains-why-you-should-never-clean-your-ears-with-cotton-swabs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/momentsunfolded.com\/archives\/7202","title":{"rendered":"Doctor explains why you should never clean your ears with cotton swabs"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class='\"entry-content\"' data-word-count='\"918\"' data-p-count='\"31\"'>\n<p><strong>A doctor warns against using cotton buds to clean ears, explaining the potential dangers and risks of ear damage.\n<p>Cleaning your ears is something many people do regularly, often using cotton buds.\n</p><p>However, a doctor has issued a strong warning about this common practice.\n</p><p>He explains why using cotton buds can be harmful and suggests safer ways to keep your ears clean.\n</p><div id='\"ez-toc-container\"' class='\"ez-toc-v2_0_71' counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction>\n<div class='\"ez-toc-title-container\"' data-word-count='\"5\"'>\n<p class='\"ez-toc-title\"'>Table of Contents\n\n<nav>\n<ul class='\"ez-toc-list' ez-toc-list-level-1>\n<li class='\"ez-toc-page-1' ez-toc-heading-level-2>Cotton buds seem convenient for cleaning.\n</li><li class='\"ez-toc-page-1' ez-toc-heading-level-2>The risk of using cotton buds\n<ul class='\"ez-toc-list-level-3\"'>\n<li class='\"ez-toc-heading-level-3\"'>One major risk is that pushing wax deeper can cause a blockage.\n</li><li class='\"ez-toc-page-1' ez-toc-heading-level-3>They contribute significantly to pollution.\n\n\n</li><li class='\"ez-toc-page-1' ez-toc-heading-level-2>Safer alternatives for ear cleaning\n<ul class='\"ez-toc-list-level-3\"'>\n<li class='\"ez-toc-heading-level-3\"'>One effective way is to use natural oils.\n\n\n\n\n\n<h2><span id='\"Cotton_buds_seem_convenient_for_cleaning\"' class='\"ez-toc-section\"'>Cotton buds seem convenient for cleaning.\n<p>Cotton buds, also known as cotton swabs, are often seen as a handy tool for personal care.\n<figure class='\"wp-caption' aligncenter><img decoding='\"async\"' class='\"lazy' loaded src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/photo.wikiany.net%5C/uploads%5C/photos%5C/2024%5C/12%5C/30%5C/people-baffled-after-realizing-reason-they-never-clean-ears-with-cotton-bud__u30__0-84009900_1735531431.jpg%5C%22" alt='\"people' baffled after realizing reason they never clean ears with cotton bud width='\"584\"' data-src='\"https:\/\/photo.wikiany.net\/uploads\/photos\/2024\/12\/30\/people-baffled-after-realizing-reason-they-never-clean-ears-with-cotton-bud__u30__0-84009900_1735531431.jpg\"' data-was-processed='\"true\"'><figcaption class='\"wp-caption-text\"'>Doctor warns against using cotton buds for ear cleaning.\n<p>Many\u00a0people use them to clean\u00a0out earwax, thinking they are helping their ears.\n</p><p>The soft tip of the cotton bud feels good, and it can seem satisfying to see the wax on the tip after using it.\n</p><p>However,\u00a0health experts warn\u00a0that this practice can actually do more harm than good.\n</p><h2><span id='\"The_risk_of_using_cotton_buds\"' class='\"ez-toc-section\"'>The risk of using cotton buds\n<p>Dr. Amir Khan, a general practitioner, shared his concerns about using cotton buds in the ears.\n</p><p>\u201cOne thing I never advise is the use of cotton bud sticks to clean the ears,\u201d he said.\n<figure class='\"wp-caption' aligncenter><img decoding='\"async\"' class='\"lazy' loaded src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/photo.wikiany.net%5C/uploads%5C/photos%5C/2024%5C/12%5C/30%5C/people-baffled-after-realizing-reason-they-never-clean-ears-with-cotton-bud__u30__0-49116000_1735531431.jpg%5C%22" alt='\"people' baffled after realizing reason they never clean ears with cotton bud width='\"758\"' data-src='\"https:\/\/photo.wikiany.net\/uploads\/photos\/2024\/12\/30\/people-baffled-after-realizing-reason-they-never-clean-ears-with-cotton-bud__u30__0-49116000_1735531431.jpg\"' data-was-processed='\"true\"'><figcaption class='\"wp-caption-text\"'>Cotton buds can push wax deeper, causing blockages and discomfort.\u00a0\n<p>He stated that while it might feel nice to clean your ears this way, it pushes the wax deeper into the ear canal.\n</p><p>Instead of removing earwax, you may be blocking it, which can lead to more serious problems.\n</p><div>\n<div><span class='\"ctaText\"'>See also\u00a0\u00a0<span class='\"postTitle\"'>Why men should avoid peeing in a standing position?\n\n<h3><span id='\"One_major_risk_is_that_pushing_wax_deeper_can_cause_a_blockage\"' class='\"ez-toc-section\"'>One major risk is that pushing wax deeper can cause a blockage.\n<p>When earwax builds up, it can lead to hearing loss and discomfort.\n</p><p>In some cases, it can even cause pain or infections.\n</p><p>Dr. Khan also mentioned the danger of accidentally damaging the eardrum while using cotton buds.\n</p><p>This could result in painful injuries that may require medical attention.\n<figure class='\"wp-caption' aligncenter><img decoding='\"async\"' class='\"lazy' loaded src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/photo.wikiany.net%5C/uploads%5C/photos%5C/2024%5C/12%5C/30%5C/people-baffled-after-realizing-reason-they-never-clean-ears-with-cotton-bud__u30__0-10292700_1735531432.jpg%5C%22" alt='\"people' baffled after realizing reason they never clean ears with cotton bud width='\"619\"' data-src='\"https:\/\/photo.wikiany.net\/uploads\/photos\/2024\/12\/30\/people-baffled-after-realizing-reason-they-never-clean-ears-with-cotton-bud__u30__0-10292700_1735531432.jpg\"' data-was-processed='\"true\"'><figcaption class='\"wp-caption-text\"'>Pushing wax too deep can damage the eardrum and cause pain.\u00a0\n<p>\u201cIt may feel good to stick a cotton bud inside of your ear and it may come out with a little bit of wax on which makes you feel like you\u2019ve cleaned it, but all you\u2019ve done is push that wax further down your ear.\n</p><p>\u201cWhich risks the wax completely blocking the ear, or worse, damaging the drum.\u201d\n</p><h3><span id='\"They_contribute_significantly_to_pollution\"' class='\"ez-toc-section\"'>They contribute significantly to pollution.\n<p>In addition to health risks, Dr. Khan indicated environmental issues related to cotton buds.\n</p><p>These products are often made of plastic, which contributes to pollution.\n</p><p>Many cotton buds end up in oceans and waterways, causing harm to marine life.\n</p><p>By avoiding the use of cotton buds, you can help reduce plastic waste.\n<figure class='\"wp-caption' aligncenter><img decoding='\"async\"' class='\"lazy' loaded src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/photo.wikiany.net%5C/uploads%5C/photos%5C/2024%5C/12%5C/30%5C/people-baffled-after-realizing-reason-they-never-clean-ears-with-cotton-bud__u30__0-19184500_1735531431.jpg%5C%22" alt='\"people' baffled after realizing reason they never clean ears with cotton bud width='\"748\"' data-src='\"https:\/\/photo.wikiany.net\/uploads\/photos\/2024\/12\/30\/people-baffled-after-realizing-reason-they-never-clean-ears-with-cotton-bud__u30__0-19184500_1735531431.jpg\"' data-was-processed='\"true\"'><figcaption class='\"wp-caption-text\"'>They contribute to pollution, harming marine life and the environment.\u00a0\n<p>\u201cCotton bud sticks are not for your ears and they\u2019re terrible for the environment,\u201d he added in the caption.\n</p><p>\u201cI know it might feel satisfying but you could be doing more harm than good!\u201d\n</p><h2><span id='\"Safer_alternatives_for_ear_cleaning\"' class='\"ez-toc-section\"'>Safer alternatives for ear cleaning\n<p>Dr. Khan recommends a few safer methods for managing earwax.\n</p><h3><span id='\"One_effective_way_is_to_use_natural_oils\"' class='\"ez-toc-section\"'>One effective way is to use natural oils.\n<p>The\u00a0NHS\u00a0suggests putting two to three drops of olive or almond oil into your ear.\n</p><p>After applying the oil, lie on your side with the affected ear facing up for about five to ten minutes.\n</p><div>\n<div><span class='\"ctaText\"'>See also\u00a0\u00a0<span class='\"postTitle\"'>Why do we often dream about falling in our sleep?\n\n<p>This can help soften the earwax, allowing it to work its way out naturally.\n<figure class='\"wp-caption' aligncenter><img decoding='\"async\"' class='\"lazy' loading src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/photo.wikiany.net%5C/uploads%5C/photos%5C/2024%5C/12%5C/30%5C/people-baffled-after-realizing-reason-they-never-clean-ears-with-cotton-bud__u30__0-82772100_1735531430.jpg%5C%22" alt='\"people' baffled after realizing reason they never clean ears with cotton bud width='\"717\"' data-src='\"https:\/\/photo.wikiany.net\/uploads\/photos\/2024\/12\/30\/people-baffled-after-realizing-reason-they-never-clean-ears-with-cotton-bud__u30__0-82772100_1735531430.jpg\"' data-was-processed='\"true\"'><figcaption class='\"wp-caption-text\"'>\n<p>If you have a lot of earwax buildup or experience discomfort, it\u2019s best to consult a healthcare professional.\n</p><p>A doctor or pharmacist can provide advice and treatments to help with earwax problems.\n</p><p>They can also safely remove excessive wax if needed.\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"</p><p>A doctor warns against using cotton buds to clean ears, explaining the potential dangers and risks of ear damage. Cleaning your ears is something many people do regularly, often using cotton buds. However, a doctor has issued a strong warning about this common practice. He explains why using cotton buds can be harmful and suggests [&hellip;]\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":7203,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7202","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/momentsunfolded.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7202","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/momentsunfolded.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/momentsunfolded.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/momentsunfolded.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/momentsunfolded.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7202"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/momentsunfolded.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7202\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7204,"href":"https:\/\/momentsunfolded.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7202\/revisions\/7204"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/momentsunfolded.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7203"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/momentsunfolded.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7202"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/momentsunfolded.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7202"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/momentsunfolded.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7202"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}</p></figcaption></figure></p></span></span></div></div></span></h3></span></h2></figcaption></figure></p></span></h3></figcaption></figure></p></span></h3></span></span></div></div></figcaption></figure></p></span></h2></figcaption></figure></p></span></h2></li></ul></li></ul></li></ul></nav></p></div></div></strong></p></div>