2023 Author: Anita Thornton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-05-22 03:30
It sounds simple and yet it isn't. Cleaning your ears and those of children requires precautions that we explain to you.
The function of earwax
Many people mistakenly think that earwax is dirt produced by the ears and that you have to get rid of it at all costs to avoid clogs. However, earwax is not waste, on the contrary! Earwax is full of saturated fatty acids and lysozyme which provide a protective barrier against bacteria and fungi and are also responsible for lubricating the ears to prevent dryness and the resulting itching.
In addition to protecting your ears, earwax is designed to clean the ears naturally and gently. How? Every time you chew, you push earwax outward and it catches all the dirt, dust, and waste that accumulates in your ears in its path. Earwax is therefore necessary for the proper functioning of the ears, and it is advisable not to touch it so that it can do its job properly.
When our ears produce too much wax
It can happen, however, that the ears produce too much earwax, which causes a small accumulation in the earexternal, at the level of the roof and the entrance to the duct. If this is your case, you can clean these areas with a cotton swab or a washcloth dampened in soapy water. Make sure, however, to never insert your cotton swab into the ear canal, which will cause earwax and all the dirt inside to be pushed out and even cause injury to the eardrum.
Getting rid of the buildup once in a while
Have a big, hard, uncomfortable earwax plug that's affecting your hearing? Forget about drugstore products that are designed to melt ear wax. In fact, earwax is not wax, but a soluble substance that easily melts in water. To unblock your ears and melt the clog, simply run slightly warm water (at body temperature) through your ear canal for a few seconds. Many doctors also recommend putting a drop of oil in each ear for a few days to help the plug loosen. Repeat the exercise as often as necessary (the shower is the perfect place if the jet is not too strong) until the blockage is eliminated.
Cleansing candles
Cleansing candles are supposed to melt earwax and suck it out of the ears. However, a study carried out in Canada in 2007 showed that the heat produced by the combustion of the candle does not reach a high enough temperature to melt the earwax! Furthermore,the suction produced by the combustion of the candle is very weak and therefore not powerful enough to suck up anything.
