All About Earwax

Earwax is a self-cleaning substance that our bodies produce to protect the ears from dust, debris, and bacteria. It can be found in the external auditory canal.

Most of the time, jaw movements naturally work earwax out of the ear. However, in some people it can build up to the point where it completely plugs the ear, which makes listening much more difficult.

In general, people who wear hearing aids, earplugs, or earbud headphones are more likely to have earwax buildup. Older people and those with congenital ear deformities or a specific shape of ear canal are also more likely to have earwax buildup in their ears.

Fortunately, you can prevent earwax from building up. It’s important to avoid inserting small objects (like cotton swabs, bobby pins, or needles and other sharp objects) into your ears. Doing so pushes the earwax even deeper into the ear, which can make things worse. You could also injure yourself and damage your eardrum, which could permanently affect your hearing.

All you need to do is use a damp cloth to clean your ears every day. After you clean, make sure to tilt your head to the side so that water can drain out.

It’s not always easy to recognize an earwax buildup, but here are the most common signs:

If you have these signs, an hearing health professional will need to perform an otoscopy to check for earwax buildups.

If you think you may have an earwax buildup, don’t hesitate to discuss it with your doctor or with a hearing health professional.