Comment on Q-tips
Katana314@lemmy.world 3 weeks agoMy ears do not self clean. You’re right about the oiling, in fact there’s a pharmaceutical product that does the same loosening. But, once that’s done, water irrigation generally does almost nothing, and most people don’t have a spare $8 trillion to keep visiting their clinic for those procedures.
Instead, there are specialized ear cleaning tools (definitely not Q-tips) designed to scoop wax rather than push it in; keep to up/down/side motions rather than inward and you can collect a fair chunk of it out. It has done far more for me than simply squirting water.
PS: Even squirting water is not uniformly safe. I have gotten an infection before by trying to use too much pressure with the hand bulbs.
FinishingDutch@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Basically, every method has its pros and cons. For me, a few drops of oil and irrigation work fine. But I also know some people require manual curette and suction to get it cleaned.
And yes, the ear bulb has its own cons. For example, you shouldn’t do it if you’ve ever had ear related trauma like a blown eardrum or ear tubes. And it should always be done with lukewarm water, as cold water can lead to dizziness.
For me, here in the Netherlands, it’s a free doctor’s visit to get it done. Only costs me the ten minute wait in the waiting room.