Thanks to Jeff Roth, the author of this story:
I have never been clear about the proper way to keep my ears clean. I had grown up being told by my doctor that “the ears naturally clean themselves.” The advice was to clean the outside of the ear canal, but do not go inside, as this disrupts the natural process of pushing ear wax out, possibly pushing wax so far into the ear canal that it gets stuck. Plus, it is good to have some ear wax.
At the same time, I independently learned the satisfaction cleaning out my ear canal with a bobby pin. I figured, I could just go a little bit inside the canal instead of staying on the outside. I got better at going deep inside my canal and periodically getting out big chunks of heavy, sometimes dark, wax. For 15 years this method kept my ears happily fairly clean. I was an avid swimmer and I never once had an ear infection, and I never fulfilled my doctor’s concern of puncturing my ear drum.
When I was in my mid-twenties I decided to follow my doctor’s advice, and see if my ears could take care of the cleaning themselves. I stopped sticking bobby pins in my ear. After maybe a year, my ears started to get clogged. Determined to stay on my doctor’s advised course, I didn’t stick in any bobby pins but tried an over-the-counter ear wax softening agent. I followed the full 3 day course, spending too much time lying on my side. Afterward, I flushed out my ear, but didn’t get the wax build up I knew was in there.
In fact, my hearing started to get worse, and soon, my right ear was completely clogged. I went to urgent care, and an incompetent nurse and doctor put stool softener in my ear (they said that would work the best), let it sit, and then spend 45 minutes shooting water into my ear with a syringe. Did it work? No, my ear just became painful, and nothing came out. I got a bill of over $300, of which my copay was $90, and a referral to the ear nose and throat doctor. I figured I would finally get some relief and some clear answers.
The ENT doc used 100% strength hydrogen peroxide in my ear, which he said works better than any of the softeners. Then he successfully vacuumed out the wax. I asked him why urgent care couldn’t have done that and he said it wasn’t the vacuum that is expensive, but the microscope that goes along with it. I let him know the local Costco has one. I didn’t bother telling him how I would have to pay for both the unsuccessful treatment and the successful treatment.
The doc confirmed my suspicion that my original doctor was wrong, people’s ear wax differs, and some have wax that will not come out on their own. He said I could either come in once a year and get the same treatment (which would cost me $100 copay), or use hydrogen peroxide myself every once in a while and then flush out my ears with a mix of hydrogen peroxide and warm water. I bought a syringe, but have actually found that the water pick on my shower works even better. And I am confident the bobby pin helps as well. Having finally gotten some good advice on how to clean my ear, I thought I’d share my story see what other people think.
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30. April 2008 at 12:11 pm
I’ve used the bobby pin technique as well but I prefer using a paper clip and folding out the U shaped end to clean. I’m not overly concerned about puncturing the eardrum because I am careful. I am more worried that I end up packing some of the wax even further down the ear canal if I don’t do it right…it would be helpful to have a microscope hooked up to a T.V..
I found the vacuum technique to be the most pleasant..last time I had it done I could watch it being done.
An interesting side note: from wikipedia (warning):
“There are two distinct genetically determined types of earwax: the wet type, which is dominant, and the dry type, which is recessive. Asians and Native Americans are more likely to have the dry type of cerumen (grey and flaky), whereas Caucasians and Africans are more likely to have the wet type (honey-brown to dark-brown and moist).[2] Cerumen type has been used by anthropologists to track human migratory patterns, such as those of the Inuit.[3]“
30. April 2008 at 7:38 pm
Thought I’d drop in again with some interesting ear cleaning links. BTW, in china you can get your ear cleaned out by a professional for $1.00!
Oxen horn ear picker:
I like this find on ebay for $7.00
Earscope: this tool retails for $140 and lets you see inside your ear
http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/01/ear-scope-turns-wax-removal-into-primetime-entertainment/
30. April 2008 at 7:39 pm
oops, here is the link
http://search.ebay.com/New-EAR-TIPS-for-Ear-Cleaning-Ear-Wax-Removal_W0QQfsiZ1QQsatitleZNewQ20EARQ2dTIPSQ20forQ20EarQ20CleaningQ20Q26Q20EarQ20WaxQ20Removal
1. September 2008 at 9:39 pm
I always use a paper clip to clean my ears and happily tell anyone. It is so much more effective than a cotton tip. It is also quite safe.
28. May 2009 at 10:28 am
Minha história é parecida! Eu também nunca tive problemas com o ouvido, e estou com quase 30 anos, sempre me limpei usando cotonete, mas um dia ouvi pela 100ª vez (ou mais) que não se deve limpar o ouvido com cotonete pois a cera sai sozinha. Então resolvi experimentar. Quando veio a coceira costumeira que antes me levava a usar o cotonete, eu não fiz nada. Depois de mais alguns dias, meu ouvido começou a ensurdecer e nada da cera sair sozinha! Então resolvi voltar ao cotonete, mas agora já tinha passado da hora de usá-lo: o cotonete empurrou a cera pra dentro. Que raiva! Por que fui dar ouvidos a esse pessoal? Eles não pensam, como a maioria das pessoas, só repetem o que os outros dizem sem questionar.
Ao procurar pela internet descobri vários casos de pessoas que tem problemas com o ouvido desde sempre porque a cera não sai naturalmente, e então eles precisam visitar regularmente o médico para a limpeza. Com isso só posso concluir que é claro que os médicos não recomendam limpar com cotonete pois aí eles tem MAIS CLIENTES, MAIS DINHEIRO ENTRANDO.
A recomendação correta deveria ser: não use cotonete “muito internamente”, mas use sim! Use o cotonete!
28. May 2009 at 10:30 am
My story is similar! I never had problems with the ear, and I am almost 30 years, I always cleaned using cotton, but one day I heard the 100 th time (or more) that we should not clean the ear wax with cotton as the leaves alone. So I decided try it. When was the usual itching that I took before using the swab, I did nothing. After a few days, my ear began to deafen and nothing to wax off alone! So I decided to return to cotton, but now had passed the time to use it: the swab pushed the wax inside. What anger! Why was I to listen to these people? They do not think, like most people, only repeat what others say without questioning.
When searching the internet found several cases of people who have problems with ear wax ever because of course do not leave, then they need to visit the doctor regularly for cleaning. With this I can only conclude that it is clear that doctors do not recommend cleaning with cotton since then they have more customers, more money coming in.
The recommendation should be correct: Do not use cotton “very internally”, but rather use! Use the cotton swab!
29. May 2009 at 9:38 am
Ear candling? My dad has done it a few times and says it works for him but of course it is an alternative therapy and has received a lot of flack….