How often do you clean your ear canals?

EarlJam · Post by **EarlJam** » October 21st, 2010, 10:54 am

I was poking around carefully with a Q-Tip today. It was interesting. It got me to wondering, how often, or better yet, how much focus do you put on your ear canals and cleaning them?

-EarlJam

CathyCA · Post by **CathyCA** » October 21st, 2010, 1:44 pm

Daily. How nasty would that be not to do it?

I keep my Q-Tips in a little crystal candy jar beside the bathroom sink. I keep my cotton balls in a crystal jar that's called a "biscuit barrel." My mouthwash is in a crystal decanter. I got all these crystal things when I got married, and I thought it kind of silly to keep them put away, so I use them in the bathroom every day.

DukeUsul · Post by **DukeUsul** » October 21st, 2010, 1:49 pm

My ear canals don't get dirty.

CameronBornAndBred · Post by **CameronBornAndBred** » October 21st, 2010, 2:17 pm

How often does Erie Canal get cleaned?

OZZIE4DUKE · Post by **OZZIE4DUKE** » October 21st, 2010, 6:18 pm

I have never needed to have my ear canals cleaned, by me or a doctor. Speak up. I can't hear you...

DukePA · Post by **DukePA** » October 21st, 2010, 9:26 pm

According to ENT docs, you should never put anything smaller than your elbow in your ear.

CathyCA · Post by **CathyCA** » October 21st, 2010, 9:34 pm

DukePA wrote:According to ENT docs, you should never put anything smaller than your elbow in your ear.

How do ENT docs clean their ears?

CameronBornAndBred · Post by **CameronBornAndBred** » October 21st, 2010, 9:34 pm

DukePA wrote:According to ENT docs, you should never put anything smaller than your elbow in your ear.

I agree. I suffered as a kid with ear infections, and occasionally still do. (Trying to get over one now, in fact.) The way I see it, the ear canal makes a perfect environment for any bacteria that is forced past the ear's natural protection. Once in there, that bacteria has found a very happy home. So unless you are cramming a sterilized Q-tip in there...

DukePA · Post by **DukePA** » October 21st, 2010, 9:44 pm

CathyCA wrote:
DukePA wrote:According to ENT docs, you should never put anything smaller than your elbow in your ear.
How do ENT docs clean their ears?

they don't. ear wax is actually there to protect from infection. the risk of developing impacted wax increases when the ear canals are cleaned because it gets pushed further into the canal, so the ENTs say let nature take its course and allow the ear wax to turn itself over naturally.

CathyCA · Post by **CathyCA** » October 21st, 2010, 10:01 pm

DukePA wrote:
CathyCA wrote:
DukePA wrote:According to ENT docs, you should never put anything smaller than your elbow in your ear.
How do ENT docs clean their ears?
they don't. ear wax is actually there to protect from infection. the risk of developing impacted wax increases when the ear canals are cleaned because it gets pushed further into the canal, so the ENTs say let nature take its course and allow the ear wax to turn itself over naturally.

Eww! Ear wax is so disgusting!

DukePA · Post by **DukePA** » October 21st, 2010, 10:12 pm

CathyCA wrote:
Eww! Ear wax is so disgusting!

I know! That's why I have to clean mine, but I try not to do it very often. Have you ever hit your ear drum? That hurts like hell

CathyCA · Post by **CathyCA** » October 21st, 2010, 10:19 pm

DukePA wrote:
CathyCA wrote:
Eww! Ear wax is so disgusting!
I know! That's why I have to clean mine, but I try not to do it very often. Have you ever hit your ear drum? That hurts like hell

Ouch! No! I don't shove the Q-Tips all the way in my ear.

colchar · Post by **colchar** » October 21st, 2010, 10:42 pm

Since my doctor thinks I might have Meniere’s Disease, which is believed to be caused at least in part by an excess of fluid in the inner ear, I clean mine very regularly in the hope that it might provide some relief.

EarlJam · Post by **EarlJam** » October 22nd, 2010, 12:02 pm

CathyCA wrote: Eww! Ear wax is so disgusting!

I honestly think ear wax is kind of cool. Why is it pumpkin orange? Why are boogers green but ear wax orange? We are so colorful.

-EarlJam

DevilWearsPrada · Post by **DevilWearsPrada** » October 22nd, 2010, 12:21 pm

This is disgusting!!! Thank goodness, I have already eaten my ham biscuit (bought at the Church booth at the NC State Fair), and reading this thread.

I use a Qtip every day , after my shower, to clean around my ears, and get the water out. I do not stick the Qtip down my ear canal. I use the Blow dryer on low heat to get the water droplets out of my ear.

I had the Tube surgery when I was 15. ENT doc said I had to be careful at the pool, ocean, shower, around water. I had ear infections and colds and sore throats all the time as a child. I dont jab anything into the ear canal. Just swab around the ear. I havent had disgusting ear wax since the surgery (along time ago).

I don't like using a phone or earpiece on a mobile phone. I would rather use the speakerphone. People that walk around with the bluetooth thing, makes my ears hurt!!! Looks like one of those Bugs in their ears.

captmojo · Post by **captmojo** » October 26th, 2010, 8:03 pm

I have one canal that goes streaight into my head and the other, which goes alongside the side of my head.
I was a frequent victim of 'Swimmer's Ear' as a a child.
Had them professionally flushed many years ago. That's when I learned the sad truth about the way my canals are pathwayed. (izat a wurd?)
When I walked out of that doc's office, I felt as though I could hear a feather drop on a mountaintop from four miles away.