5 reasons why you should not use q-tips to clean your ears?
There are different yet important reasons why you should refrain from using q-tips in your ears. Here are the best reasons that we can give you when it comes to discouraging the use of cotton swabs in ear cleaning.
1. Earwax is important. First and foremost, the reason why you should not use q-tips for ear cleaning is the fact that earwax is important and should not be removed in any dangerous means. Though it can be gross once accumulated, ear wax helps reduce the risk of infections due to its antibacterial properties. Ear wax also acts as an insect repellent which keeps bugs and other insects out of your ears. The wax on …show more content…
Several methods can be used to soften your ear wax. Prior to visiting a health professional, you will be advised to soften your ear wax for 3 to 4 days. There are different methods that you can do this with the need for q-tips. All you have to do is to choose what to apply in your ears such as mineral oil, baby oil, a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and water, or glycerine. Applying these methods at home will also help you manage the build-up of ear wax.
Is candling a safe wax removal in ear?
Since the normal use of q-tips for ear cleaning is not recommended, you might wonder if you can do ear candling instead. For those who are not familiar with ear candling, it is a method of ear cleaning where excess wax are removed using a hollow ear cone that is soaked in either beeswax or paraffin. The ear cone is inserted inside the ear and lit at the top. The heat from teh cone will soften teh cerumen and pull it out.
But is it a better and safe alternative for cleaning the ears compared to cotton