People worldwide use cotton buds, or “Q-tips,” to clean their ears. Some do so to eliminate the wax; many may even enjoy the sensation. You might believe these soft, gentle products are perfect for this purpose, but what if I told you that they aren’t?
As a matter of fact, cotton buds can be very bad for the ears. Most packages of the items even specify that they’re not to be used for that purpose; still, many people go ahead and do so! Perhaps it’s because the warnings don’t seem serious or because they can’t imagine delicate items being harmful.
Unfortunately, cotton swabs are fairly bad for your ears for many reasons. In some rare cases, it can even cause a severe reaction – such as a brain infection that, if left untreated, could turn life-threatening and result in fatalities. Yikes!
Ear Specialists Claim Cleaning Ears With Cotton Buds Can Give You Brain Infection
But why, exactly do cotton buds pose such a threat to your ears? Can you really get such serious health problems from them? How are you supposed to clean your ears instead? Don’t worry, we’ve got the answers!
A Mysterious Brain Infection
A 31-year-old man was admitted to the hospital’s emergency room after experiencing a bad seizure. At first glance, it would appear an odd occurrence. The man was otherwise very healthy and had no pre-existing medical condition that would lead to a seizure.
Before he had been admitted to that hospital, the man had been dealing with some unusual symptoms. His left ear had been hurting for about two weeks, and a lot of discharge had flowed out of that ear. He’d even started to lose his hearing abilities to some degree.
As the days passed, he also began to experience bad headaches, though only on the left part of his head. The migraines were so severe that they drove him to the point of vomiting multiple times. He was also having memory troubles and beginning to forget other people’s names.
Doctors decided to conduct a brain scan to see if they could discover what was going on. To their horror, they discovered multiple abscesses present in his head, leading from the ear canal, up into the bones of his skull, and into the lining of his brain. Abscesses are, in layman’s terms, severe types of infections.
Discovering the Cause of the Brain Infection: Cotton Buds
In this man’s case, the infection was necrotizing otitis externa, which is a bacterial infection. Toxic chemicals caused by the infection may have led to the seizure, or it could have also been the swelling happening in the brain causing pressure that caused the attack. The temporary memory loss could also be explained through this means.
Doctors needed to look closer at his ear, so they began a surgical exploration. That’s when they discovered the culprit behind this whole ordeal – a small portion of a cotton bud or swab that had become stuck in his ear and remained there. While he had been cleaning his ears with a cotton bud, this tip had broken off and become stuck inside his left ear without him realizing it.
There’s no way to know for sure how long that cotton bud part was in there, but given its condition and the wax around it, it had likely been present for a significant amount of time. Luckily, doctors could safely remove the part and clean up his ears.
What happened to the man? Well, he received the right medical treatment, and after ten weeks, he recovered entirely with no symptoms remaining at all so that he can look forward to the future with positive thinking.
Other Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Use Cotton Buds To Clean Your Ears
Virtually all medical professionals will tell you that inserting cotton buds into your ears is not a positive move. It’s not just because of the minimal risk of a brain infection, either. There are tons of other valid reasons that you shouldn’t do this. Here are some of them:
1. Cotton Buds Push The Wax Further In
When you use cotton buds, you think you’re scooping dirt out – but all you’re really doing is pushing it back inside. Essentially, you’re forcing the wax deeper in and shoving it up against your eardrums.
This is pretty bad and can lead to the rupturing of your eardrum. It might even cause an impact. These issues could all potentially point toward hearing loss.
2. You May Hurt Yourself
Cotton buds may usually be quite soft, but that doesn’t mean they can’t accidentally harm you. If you’re pushed while cleaning your ears or you happen to apply too much pressure, you can injure your eardrum.
In addition, the sticks of cotton buds are fine and sharp, so you may wind up accidentally scratching yourself, leaving you more prone to infections.
3. You Could Dry Out Your Ear
Earwax isn’t all bad. It’s full of antibacterial qualities that help to keep it safe from infections. When you remove it in excess, it can actually lead to dryness and irritation, which can then make you more susceptible to ear infections.
4. It’ll Cause The Wax To Be Harder To Get Rid Of
When you force all of your ear wax back into your ear while using a cotton bud, you’re causing the wax to stick together. This means it is becoming compact, so getting rid of the wax will be even harder. This wax can even impede your hearing by blocking up the eardrum.
5. Earwax Has Lots Of Uses
Aside from providing antibacterial benefits, earwax does much more than appear gross, so don’t underestimate its positive qualities! It is an insect repellent, so you don’t get bugs in your ears. It keeps your canal lubricated against itchiness and free you from infection.
6. It Will Clear Itself Out
Believe it or not, your ears are capable of self-cleaning. Yes, that’s right! Whenever you move your jaw, wax is typically pushed outwards towards the outer ear. Just eating, yawning, and even talking will get this done. You can practice positive thinking and know your wax will flush itself out.
So, what do you have to do? Just shower well, and use a clean cloth to cleanse the outer ear area now and then.
How To Clean Your Ears The Right Way
For the most part, ears are self-cleaning, but that doesn’t mean you won’t want to give it a good clean occasionally. But now that you know not to use cotton buds, what else can you do?
There’s a correct way to clean your ears easily, and you don’t need a lot of materials – just things you probably already have at home. While it’s more time-consuming than cotton buds, it’s safer, healthier, and more effective. Here’s how to clean your ears in the right way. You will need:
- Clean water
- Syringe-like object (a medical syringe, a bulb syringe, or a bottle with a small hole)
- Bowl
- Towel (or another bowl)
- Alcohol
- Household-strength hydrogen peroxide (optional)
Step 1:
Get some clean water at a lukewarm temperature and place it in a bowl. Be sure that it is neither too cold nor too hot; extreme temperatures can cause a reaction from the auditory nerve, leading to temporary dizziness and loss of balance.
Step 2:
This step is optional, but if you so desire, you can add a couple of drops of hydrogen peroxide (household-strength) to the water in the bowl.
Step 3:
Set out another bowl or a towel underneath your face to catch discharge from your ear.
Step 4:
Take a syringe-like object of your choice. Your best options are medical syringes (without any needle) or a bulb syringe. Barring that, you can use a bottle with a tiny pinhole prick in the base or any other similar item. Fill this object with the water that you have ready in your bowl.
Step 5:
Start with your right ear. Pull your right ear backward and upwards with your right hand; don’t worry, you should be able to reach it.
Step 6:
Raise the syringe above your ear and squeeze it so that the water within it enters your ear canal. Try to do so with steady and constant pressure.
Step 7:
Wait for the wax to exit your ear. Once it does, you have completed your task. It should not take longer than 5 minutes.
Step 8:
Switch over to your left ear now and do the same process again.
Step 9:
Take some alcohol and place a few drops into your ear. This will help to dry the ear canal well. If you like, you can also add peroxide to this alcohol before using it.
Do note that if wax still has not come out of your ear after 5 minutes, you should stop for the time being. You should also stop if you begin to get dizzy, or if you start feeling any pain. You can always attempt the irrigation once more when a few hours have passed; by then, the initial water you used will have helped to soften any debris or wax for easier removal.
Final Thoughts On How Cleaning Ears With Cotton Buds Can Give You Brain Infection
Yes, cleaning your ears with a cotton bud feels good, and it’s straightforward – but it can also be harmful. Not only are you drying out your ear and making the buildup worse, but you’re also opening yourself up to the possibility of itchiness, hearing loss, and infections of all kinds.
If you need help cleaning your ears correctly, you can always opt for special cleaning tools designed specifically for this purpose.
Do note that you can always speak to a doctor about getting your ears professionally cleaned if the need arises. If they feel very backed up and you really need wax removed, an Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) specialist can help to perform some heavy-duty cleansing!
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