How to Clean Your Ears
Hygiene is very important in preventing diseases. Our ears, just like any part of our body, need regular cleaning. Here are some tips you can follow to safely clean your ears.
Why You Have to Clean Your Ears
Ear infections are usually caused by a build up of earwax. When there is a build up of earwax in your ears, it may totally block the ear canal, leading to hearing loss and other ear problems. You may also experience pain when there is an accumulation of earwax in your ears.
Things You’ll Need:
Wash cloth
Ear wax removal kit
Bulb syringe
Cotton swabs
Steps:
Adults
Get an ear wax removal kit. There are different brands you can buy in the market. Be careful with what you buy. It’s advisable to consult your doctor before buying any of these products.
ear cleaning
Follow the directions that comes with the product you chose. You would normally be asked to fill a bulb syringe with the solution diluted in water.
Tilt your head to the side and put a few drops of solution in your ear.
Hold this position for a few minutes to allow the solution to properly react with the environment in your ears.
Tilt to the opposite side and let the solution drip out of your ear.
Repeat the same steps to the other ear.
With a cotton swab, clean the outer part of your ear.
Infants
Cleaning an infant’s ears is a bit different from cleaning an adult’s ears. You have to be extra careful when cleaning your baby’s ears. Avoid using cotton swabs and clean your infant’s ears gently.
Soak a washcloth in warm water and use this to clean your infant’s ears.
Start from the top and outer portion of your baby’s ear. Don’t forget to clean the folds and back of the ear.
With the twisted corner of your wash cloth, carefully clean the inside of your baby’s ear.
Dry the baby’s ear with a fresh towel.
Repeat the same step to the other ear.
Tips:
Consult your doctor if you have excessive accumulation of earwax in your ears.
Avoid putting things in your ears to clean them, like hairpins.
Prevent perforated eardrums by carefully cleaning ears. If you’re unsure of how to do it, especially when your caring for your baby, it’s always wise to consult a health professional.
If you or your infant is experiencing ear pain, avoid cleaning the ears and consult a doctor immediately to avoid complications.
Be careful when using cotton swabs, you may just be pushing the earwax further into your ears.
Avoid using earwax removal solutions to clean your baby’s ears unless directed by a doctor. A warm washcloth is enough to soften the wax build up and clean your baby’s ears.
Unless you have an excess build up of earwax, there’s no need to clean your ears all the time, that doesn’t mean that you have to neglect cleaning your ears though. Have a regular schedule for cleaning them. Be very careful when doing so to avoid complications, like a perforated eardrum. For more information regarding this article, read how to get rid of ear wax.