Earwax protects your ears from dirt, debris, and even bacteria, and it is typically expelled naturally through jaw movements to keep the ear canals clean. However, for people with hearing aids and certain conditions, the wax is more likely to become trapped and may need to be removed manually. Here is a brief guide to help you clear your ears safely and effectively.

Why You Should Clean Your Ears

Wearing hearing aids throughout the day often stops earwax from being expelled naturally, so it has to be cleaned out by hand. Failure to clean out the excess cerumen, or earwax, can lead to wax impactions and ear infections, both of which are uncomfortable and take time to treat and heal. Adopting a careful, regular cleaning routine will help you avoid these outcomes and maintain a healthy ear canal.

How to Safely Clean Them

While many people clean their ears with cotton swabs, doing so can be detrimental to your ear health, and doctors recommend avoiding this practice. If you do want to use swabs, use them only to clean the outside edges of the ear canal instead of putting them deeper into the ear. Using a cloth towel is a safer option. A damp cloth applied to the rim of the ear canal effectively cleans earwax on the outside and softens wax inside, and there is little risk of pushing wax and cotton fibers back into the inner ear.

Many doctors also offer ear canal irrigation, which can be done in a short visit.