Earwax Removal Tools

Earwax is a very common problem of the ears. As many of us believe it to be a dirty thing. Actually, it is not so, it is the natural mechanism of the body to protect the eardrum and throw out any foreign particles that enter the ears. Children and elderly people are most badly affected by this. Most of us think that any pointed and long thing that can be inserted into the ear can be used as ear removal tool. So, we pick up anything around us like car keys, bobby pins and paper clips to remove the earwax. Cotton swabs are believed to be a safe tool. However, the truth is that it is not safe for the eardrums. Another disadvantage of ear swabs is that it tends to push the earwax further into the ear canal. The right earwax removal tools are necessary because the ear canal and eardrum are sensitive parts of our body and even a mild, abnormal touch can cause injury or damage to them. The job of earwax removal takes just a few minutes when you use the right kind of tools.

Ear Drops
Instead of using any ear drops that are available over the counter, use carbamide peroxide solution for earwax removal. It helps to make the earwax soft and loose and earwax removal becomes an easy task. Put a few drops of this solution into the ear and then block the ear with small cotton plugs. Wait for about half an hour when the foams of the carbamide solution will break up the earwax. During this time, you may hear the bubbling sound of the foams in your ear. After half an hour, take out the cotton plug and wash of the outer portion of the ear with warm water. You can use a rubber syringe for the washing process.

However, carabamide peroxide solution is not suitable for everyone. Those who are allergic towards this chemical should not use it. If there are symptoms of any ear infection or injury like any kind of liquid discharge, bleeding or pain, it should not be used without consulting the doctor. It should not be given to children below 12 years of age. In case, after using this solution for 4 days, you are unable to get any relief you should consult the doctor immediately.

Ototek Loop
This is a very simple earwax removal tool and can be used at home for removing earwax. You do not have to visit the physician. It is made up of plastic and is long in shape and consist of a small loop at its one end. Slip in the looped end inside the ear carefully along one side of the ear and move it over to the other side. As a result, the earwax will get scooped into the loop and when you take out the loop the earwax will easily come out of the ear. Due to the narrow tip of the loop, there is no possibility of the earwax getting pushed inside.

Irrigation and Curette
This is mainly used for the removal of dry flakes of earwax. This technique should not be attempted at home. When you visit a doctor for earwax removal, the first thing the doctor will do is to wash out the earwax by putting warm water into the ear canal using a syringe. This warm water will loosen up the earwax and then it is washed out. This process of earwax cleaning is known as irrigation. In some cases, this does not show up the desired result and then the doctors use the curette technique. Curette is a small earwax removal tool made of metal that has a ring at one of its end. It should be used by skilled professionals only. Curette is a painful method of earwax removal. Irrigation too may be a cause of a lot of discomfort.

Ear Candling
This is an age-old technique of earwax removal using the heat of the candle and has gained popularity recently. Here, a hollow candle made of beeswax is lit up and the base is placed in the ear canal for a brief period of time. It is believed that a vacuum is created by the burning flame of the candle, which helps to suck out the earwax. Once the wax is removed from the canal, you can see its base turned dark brown. Though most of the researchers opine that it is not only an ineffective tool, but can also be dangerous if any hot molten wax falls into the ear canal when the ear candling instructions are not followed properly. Ear candling can cause permanent damage to the ear. There is also the risk of the skin and hair getting burned.

The problem of earwax should not be neglected as it can lead to other ear problems like severe pain, hearing loss and cough. Though some of the earwax removal tools we have discussed here can be used at home, it is advisable to consult a physician before you use any of them.