Dubai, United Arab Emirates (CNN) – Are you bothered by the idea of wax in your ear? If you’re obsessed with getting rid of earwax, it’s important to know that it has several benefits.
According to a tweet from King Saud Medical City’s official Twitter account, earwax prevents dust and germs from entering the ear and also works to lubricate the ear canal.
Cleaning the ear with cotton swabs or hard materials should be avoided, as this pushes earwax into the canal, causing it to build up and making hearing difficult.
In most cases of earwax blockage, the condition can be treated at home by cleaning the ear with a piece of cloth.
The following materials can be used to soften wax:
- Baby oil
- Glycerine
- water
Earwax is made up of a substance called earwax, which is mixed with dirt and dust, and is usually produced by the body as a means of cleaning and protecting the ear.
The usual jaw movements after talking and chewing, along with the growth of skin inside the canal, help move old wax from the inside of the ear to the outside, where it’s washed off during a bath.
This self-cleaning process works well for most people. But in others, including 10% of children, 20% of adults, and 30% of adults and the disabled, earwax builds up until it completely blocks the ear canal.
The specialist may use an otoscope, a device that allows you to look inside the ear, to see if earwax is blocking the ear canal.
Earwax can usually be removed safely by diluting it with water, ear drops, or manual extraction using a device called a curette.
