How to Clean the Ear? What Should Be Considered?

The ear is a naturally self-cleaning organ. The plug, which is popularly called earwax, is not actually dirt. It is the dried form of ear secretion by holding dust and dirt particles. Thanks to the natural mechanisms of the ear, the plug moves towards the auricle and is ejected spontaneously. For this reason, the ear does not need cleaning; however, in some cases, the amount of plug may increase or there may be problems with ejection of the plug.

What is Earwax?

The part of the ear that starts from the auricle and continues to the eardrum is called the external auditory canal. The external auditory canal (or ear canal) is covered with hair follicles and contains ear-specific glands. The waxy oily secretion produced from these glands is called cerumen. Cerumen traps foreign materials such as dust, dirt and bacteria from outside to protect the ear. The cerumen, which holds these particles, dries up. This dried deposit is called earwax or, in its medical name, plug. "Ear wax" does not mean that the ear is dirty. That's just how it's called among the people. The ear normally removes the wax by advancing to the auricle and cleans itself. Earwax cannot be removed from the ear canal, or if it is produced in more than the amount that can be excreted, it accumulates in the ear canal and clogs the ear.

Ear Wax Symptoms

There are many causes of ear congestion. The glands in your ear produce more cerumen than normal, resulting in more earwax than the ear canal can expel. This excess accumulates in the ear canal and clogs the ear. Trying to remove earwax with a swab pushes the wax deeper and clogs the ear canal. Swimming in the sea or getting water in the ear in the bathroom causes ear congestion by inflating the dirt that has not been removed from the ear. Sometimes the natural shape of a person's ear canal can also make it difficult to remove dirt from the ear. Earwax congestion:

• Tinnitus,
• Humming in the ear,
• Ear pain,
• Itching in the ear,

Ear congestion prepares the ground for ear infection as well as the discomfort it causes.

• i pain
• Pain in the ear that does not go away
• Discharge from the ear
• Bad odor from the ear
• Fever
• Cough
• Permanent hearing loss
• Symptoms such as dizziness may indicate an ear infection.

If you think you have any of the above-mentioned symptoms, it would be good to consult an otolaryngologist. .

What are the Ear Cleaning Methods?

If you do not have a problem with ear congestion, you can wipe only the prominent part of your ears with a wet cloth or wash the outside of your ear to clean the dirt that comes out of the ear canal by itself. The safest way to clean the ear is to have it done by a specialist physician. In-ear cleaning procedures at home; but it makes the ear worse. If you still prefer to clean your ears yourself at home, here are the methods you can try:

• Wet cloth: Cotton swab sticks push the wax deeper into the ear canal. It will be healthier to use cotton ear buds only on the outside of your ear instead of using them inside the ear. Better still, you can try wiping the area you think is dirty with a warm, damp cloth.
• Ear candles: Another option to avoid is ear candles. Long, cone-shaped candles are inserted into the ear canal and used by igniting the tip to absorb earwax and lift it up. Fever may injure you, or wax in your ear may block your ear canal. It will be better for your health to stay away from ear candles.

It is very important to get support from an Ear Nose and Throat specialist for a correct diagnosis and treatment. If you have earwax congestion more than once a year and/or have certain risk factors, you may want to consider making an appointment for a routine otolaryngological examination every 6 to 12 months.

How to Clean Ears?

The safest way to remove dirt is to consult a specialist physician. However, an otolaryngologist can do ear cleaning. There is no such thing as ear cleaning in an emergency. Your otolaryngologist will make suggestions after looking into your ear with the help of a lighted instrument called an otoscope and seeing the plug. ir. For example, you need to start using about a week ago for treatment, soften the earwax, treat the infection if any, remove edema in the ear canal, etc. can prescribe the most suitable ear drops for your situation. At your doctor's appointment after using these drops regularly:

• Ear lavage (ear washing),
• Removing the plug with a curette,
• Aspiration (vacuuming) with the most appropriate method for your situation. The congestion in your ear can be treated.

Many people wonder if ear washing, which is one of the ear cleaning methods, is habit-forming. Washing the ear canal is not habit-forming. However;

• People whose ear canal is different from the normal shape,
• People whose glands in the ear canal produce more cerumen than normal,
• People whose ear canal is narrower than normal,
• People who use hearing aids or headphones,
• People who spend a lot of time in dusty environments,
• People whose ear canals are inadequate to clean themselves, need ear cleaning every 6 to 12 months they can hear. This need already exists before the first ear washing procedure, and this need is related to the aforementioned risk factors, it is not related to the habit of ear washing. you can do this. In addition, if you have or think you have one or more of the above risk factors, do not neglect to make an appointment with an otolaryngologist.

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