Can Using Cotton Swabs Cause Wax To Get Trapped In The Ears?

While the importance of healthy hearing is clear to everyone, the topic of ear cleaning remains misunderstood by millions. Unfortunately, poor habits can contribute to temporary or permanent hearing loss in either one or both ears. One of the most common questions asked of ear, nose and throat (ENT) doctors is: can using cotton swabs cause wax to get trapped in the ears?

Here’s everything you need to know about ear cleaning and the use of cotton swabs.

Can Using Cotton Swabs Cause Wax Obstructions?

First and foremost, it’s important to know that earwax is completely natural. In fact, it plays an essential role in keeping your ears healthy. The naturally occurring wax works with the tiny hairs that line your ear to trap dust and debris as it enters the ear, which subsequently stops it from causing damage to the inner ear. It additionally features moisturizing properties to prevent the canal from becoming too dry.

While earwax can protect you against infections, too much of it can leave your ears feeling heavy, itchy or otherwise uncomfortable. People who experience blockages may also encounter temporary hearing loss and tinnitus. When this happens, reaching for the cotton swabs is the natural response. Unfortunately, rather than allowing you to hook the wax out, it will simply push the wax down further into the ear canal.

This happens because the ear canal isn’t that wide, meaning there simply isn’t enough room for a cotton swab and the earwax. So, while you may see a little wax on the swab after removing it from your ear, it is likely that you will inadvertently make the situation worse. When the wax blockage is pushed further into the ear, the symptoms of temporary hearing loss and tinnitus will become more noticeable. It’ll also take longer for the issues to clear.

What Other Problems May Be Caused by Using Cotton Swabs?

Using cotton swabs as an ear cleaning technique doesn’t only worsen the obstruction. Scraping a cotton swab or any foreign instrument could potentially damage the cochlea hair cells within the ear. Given that damaged hair cells are one of the leading contributors to hearing loss, cotton swabs should be avoided. Otherwise, you may inadvertently cause permanent and irreversible damage.

It should also be noted that pushing the cotton swab too deep into the ear canal could lead to a perforated eardrum. Penetrating injuries linked to ideas like ear cleaning with cotton swabs is responsible for nearly half of all ruptured eardrums. It can be particularly dangerous when using the swabs to clean a child’s ears.

Cotton swabs may additionally have bacteria on them. The combination of introducing bacteria to the ear canal while simultaneously disrupting the natural earwax from performing its job can put you at increased risk of infections. In some cases, it is possible that a small amount of cotton will break off and remain in the ear. It will become another source of obstruction and discomfort.

So, How Should You Clean Your Ears?

For most people, there is no need to clean their ears. It is estimated that 80% of adults and 90% of children will naturally avoid excessive wax buildup. However, the likelihood of experiencing a buildup can increase for the elderly and disabled populations. Even so, most people should not need to clean the inside of their ears. If you do experience a buildup, calling an ENT doctor to discuss irrigation and other ways to remove the blockage is vital.

While earwax is not a sign of poor hygiene, it can still look a little unappealing. You can clean the outer ear with care using a damp cloth to remove any dried wax on your loves or outer ear. Just be careful not to get water in the ears as this may cause a condition known as swimmer’s ear. Do this as a part of your normal daily bathing routine and you should not need to worry about any other ear cleaning rituals.

The wax itself will naturally leave the ear as the ear naturally pushes it towards the outer ear. If you feel that there is a slight earwax buildup, jaw movements such as chewing can help loosen up the wax and gently move it toward the outer ear. As new skin cells grow, they will push dead cells and earwax away from the ear canal too. In short, if you don’t feel a problem, you can continue to let nature do its thing.

When to see an ENT doctor

If wax blockages have caused pain, tinnitus or vertigo, you should speak to an ENT doctor about professional ear cleaning and related services. Call the ENT Specialists at (402) 983-9948 to book your appointment now.