Ear care information

Here are a few ear hygiene tips:

  • Clean your ears with extra care. Don’t clean your ears with anything smaller than a washcloth on your finger. Don’t use Q-tips®, bobby pins or sharp pointed objects to clean your ears. These objects may injure the ear canal or eardrum.
  • Earwax is the ear’s way of cleaning itself. If you have a build-up of earwax that is blocking your hearing, see a healthcare provider to have it removed. Don’t try to remove it on your own.
  • If you experience itching or pain in your ears, call your healthcare provider. They’ll examine you, advise you on suitable treatment and help you decide if you need to see a specialist.
  • If you have pierced ears, clean your earrings and earlobes regularly with rubbing alcohol.
Safe ways to remove earwax
  1. Ask your doctor to remove the wax in their office.
  2. Clean the outside of your ear with a damp cloth.
  3. If you choose to use cotton swabs, don't insert them into the ear canal.
  4. You can use earwax softener to soften earwax for easier removal.
  5. You can use a syringe to irrigate your ears.

Excessive earwax may cause symptoms of earwax blockage to become worse. These symptoms might include hearing loss, ear irritation, etc. A buildup of earwax might also make it difficult to see into the ear, which may result in potential problems going undiagnosed