Top Tips to Prevent Earwax Buildup

At Stay Tuned Hearing, we believe in empowering you with the knowledge to maintain optimal ear health. While earwax often gets a bad rap, it’s actually a natural and healthy substance produced in your outer ear canal, serving crucial protective functions. It helps to clean, lubricate, and protect the ear canal from foreign particles, pathogens, and water.

However, when earwax accumulates excessively, it can lead to impaction, causing symptoms like a feeling of blockage, itching, mild irritation, and even a decrease in hearing or tinnitus. Understanding how to prevent this build-up is key to maintaining clear, healthy ears.

Why Does Earwax Build Up?

Your ears are remarkably self-cleaning. Jaw movements naturally help migrate wax out of the ear canal. However, several factors can disrupt this natural process, leading to earwax impaction:

• Genetics and Ear Anatomy: Some individuals are naturally prone to earwax build-up due to producing certain types of wax (e.g., sticky “wet” wax) or having narrow or convoluted ear canals.
• Age: As we age, earwax can become drier and harder to clear naturally.
• Use of Hearing Aids or Earphones: Regular use of these devices can obstruct the natural outward migration of earwax and may even stimulate increased wax production.
• Skin Conditions: Dermatological conditions like eczema or psoriasis can alter wax physiology and clearance.
• The Most Common Culprit: Self-Cleaning Habits.

The Golden Rule: Say NO to Cotton Buds and Foreign Objects!

This is perhaps the most important piece of advice you’ll ever receive regarding ear health: never put anything smaller than your elbow in your ear. Despite widespread misconception that self-cleaning with cotton buds is hygienic, this practice is a primary cause of earwax impaction and injury.

Here’s why:

Instead of inserting objects, simply clean the outer ear with a cloth if earwax is visible. For general hygiene, remember that your ear is designed to self-clean.

Managing Earwax with Hearing Aids and Earphones

If you wear hearing aids or frequently use earphones, you might be more susceptible to earwax build-up. These devices can impede the natural migration of earwax and increase moisture in the ear canal, creating an environment conducive to wax accumulation and even bacterial growth.

To help prevent excessive build-up and maintain hygiene:

• Clean Your Devices Regularly: Make it a habit to clean and disinfect your hearing aids and earphones regularly. This helps prevent the transfer of dirt and microbes into your ear canal.
• Discuss with Your Audiologist: If you notice consistent earwax issues related to your devices, speak with us. We can advise on specific cleaning routines or suggest alternative device styles that might be more suitable for your ear canal anatomy.

Ear Drops: Are They for Prevention or Removal?

Over-the-counter ear drops, often called cerumenolytics, are commonly used, but it’s important to understand their role in earwax management. While agents like carbamide peroxide, sodium bicarbonate, or saline drops are generally considered safe and effective for softening existing earwax to aid in its removal, they are not recommended for routine, long-term prevention of earwax accumulation.

In fact, recent research indicates that regular application of olive oil drops does not reduce earwax build-up; on the contrary, it may hasten its accumulation because the wax absorbs the oil and expands. Other agents like hydrogen peroxide and sodium bicarbonate, while effective for softening, can cause irritation or alter the ear canal’s natural acidic pH, reducing its protective capabilities if used long-term.

Therefore, if you are experiencing earwax impaction, ear drops can be a useful first step to soften the wax before professional removal. However, for prevention, focus on avoiding harmful practices rather than relying on daily ear drop use. If you need to soften earwax for a procedure, a period of 5 days of application prior to removal is often recommended.

New Horizons in Earwax Prevention

For individuals whose ears struggle with the natural self-cleaning process, new innovations are being developed. One such example is a proposed manual, user-friendly tool featuring flexible bands designed to gently grip and remove wax from the ear canal without pushing it deeper, and with built-in safety features to prevent contact with the eardrum. While still requiring further research and development before widespread commercialisation, these types of tools could offer a safer option for preventative cleaning for those who truly need it. 

When to Seek Professional Help

While earwax prevention largely hinges on proper hygiene and avoiding harmful habits, some individuals are more prone to impaction due to anatomical factors or underlying conditions. If you frequently experience significant earwax build-up, or if you have symptoms like hearing loss, ear pain, or discharge, it’s crucial to seek professional advice.

Our audiologists at Stay Tuned Hearing are equipped with the expertise and tools to safely and effectively remove impacted earwax and provide personalised guidance on prevention. We use safe methods like microsuction, which allows for direct visualisation and effective removal. We can also assess for any underlying causes of excessive wax production or impaction.

Protect Your Hearing with Stay Tuned Hearing

Maintaining healthy ears is vital for your overall well-being. By following these evidence-based prevention tips, you can significantly reduce your risk of earwax build-up and associated complications.

Ready to ensure your ears are clear and healthy?

• Learn more about our comprehensive Earwax Removal Services.
• Explore our range of Hearing Aids and Devices, and get expert advice on their maintenance.
• Book an Appointment with a Stay Tuned Hearing audiologist today for a personalised assessment and ear care plan.
• Contact Us if you have any questions about your ear health.

Stay Tuned Hearing Clinic

Stay Tuned Hearing are specialists in the audiological field. 

Being an independent Audiologist, we provide professional and unbiased advice.