Best way to clean your ears?(**UPDATE**)

[ryst]

I made an appointment for next week with a Nose, Throat, and Ear specialist to have my eards cleaned. I have been using the over -the -counter "Murine ear wax removal system" It's basically Carbamide Peroxide that you drop in your ears and then lightly flush with warm water with the included ear syringe. Anyway, the specialist is going to use a vacuum-like tool that is really small to go into my ear and suction out the wax. Should I be worried about this procedure? Does anyone have any experiences with this procedure or similar ones? My ears are very improtant and I want to make sure this is done correctly since I rely on them everyday.

[djwayne]

I've had it done before, and it helps. Most recently I had one ear cleaned out by a specialist using a long metal type q-tip with cotton on the end....also worked good, but do NOT try this at home, as you can cause serious damage easily......see and talk to the specialist. It's time well spent.

[Bbach1]

Originally posted by ryst:

I made an appointment for next week with a Nose, Throat, and Ear specialist to have my eards cleaned. I have been using the over -the -counter "Murine ear wax removal system" It's basically Carbamide Peroxide that you drop in your ears and then lightly flush with warm water with the included ear syringe. Anyway, the specialist is going to use a vacuum-like tool that is really small to go into my ear and suction out the wax. Should I be worried about this procedure? Does anyone have any experiences with this procedure or similar ones? My ears are very improtant and I want to make sure this is done correctly since I rely on them everyday.

Yea shoot Ryst. I have that procedure done almost every winter. I use the over the counter methods, but during winter, my ears go crazy. The procedure they use on me is a hot rinse as opposed to suction. It hurts little, but the doc says it's harmless. Works great.

[Ouizel]

I was going to be a smart-ass and say power drill, but, since you have a legitimate concern, I won't.

 

I'd say that your best bet is to do what you're doing. That's what those doctors are for.

[coyote]

If you have wax in your ears it's because you don't turn the music up enough! The right music at high-enough will unleash enough sub-bass frequencies that it'll liquify the wax, which will then run out on its own.

[ITGITC]

I've got car keys that just won't work anymore because of that awful earwax buildup. So I decided keys were useless for this kind of work. Now I just use one of these:

 

http://www.free-electricity.net/products/img/poker.jpg

 

 

 

I apologize. Neil (FantasticSound) made me do it.

 

Ask Where02190-4567. He reported that he gets his ears check and cleaned every week or so.

 

Is There Gas In The Car?

[g.]

like djwayne needs clean ears.

[Wewus432]

Don't forget to replace the drums if they show signs of wear.

[djwayne]

Originally posted by greenboy:

like djwayne needs clean ears.

So the better I can hear....Ashlee !!!!

 

Maybe it's time you get your ears cleaned out, eh ???

[where02190]

I'm methodical and meticulous about my ears. 2x yearly I go to Mass Eye and Ear for a professional inspection and cleaning, and weekly I do a warm water rinse in the shower. I never have any buildup that needs removal, haven't gotten an ear infection in years, and my hearing tests well above average for someone 1/2 my age.

 

I've always been religious about protection. I'm never without earplugs, and wear them often, including mowing the lawn, working with power tools, and at sporting events. So far it seem to have paid off.

[ryst]

Guys?

Can we continue to please dicuss the original topic? In case you have forgotten, we should be talking about ME!!!!!!

ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME self-indulgence ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME self-indulgence ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME self-indulgence ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME self-indulgence ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME

[miroslav]

Not clear why so many here seem to feel the need to have all the wax removed from their ears...and so often!!!...???

 

Earwax does not = dirty ears.

 

Earwax is normal, and protects the ears.

I know some people may produce really extreme amounts of the stuff...so much, that it will be falling out of their ears at times...

...and they may need an occasional "flush".

But for the majority...I've heard from doctors, that leaving the inside of your ear, aloneis the best approach.

 

I think some people think that zero wax = better hearing...

...but that's not really true.

 

If the wax is impacted against the drum...then yes, that will be a problem...but that is not something that happens to the majority.

So...I would stay away from regular earwax "flushes".

 

My occasional ear problem preventative is the use of eardrops made from grapefruit seed extract and glycerin. It is a natural anti-fungal/anti-bacterial.

If ever I feel a bit of inner ear itch that persists throughout the day...I reach for the drops. 1-2 applications...and all gone...but the wax is not removed in any way.

OHthe drops are recommended by many ENT docs, and can be gotten in health food stores.

[g.]

Hi, Bob? How's the influx since Halloween? Any especially good dispossessions on the market?

[djwayne]

"My occasional ear problem preventative is the use of eardrops made from grapefruit seed extract and glycerin. It is a natural anti-fungal/anti-bacterial.

If ever I feel a bit of inner ear itch that persists throughout the day...I reach for the drops. 1-2 applications...and all gone...but the wax is not removed in any way.

OHthe drops are recommended by many ENT docs, and can be gotten in health food stores."

 

My specialist also recommended drops called "Lotrimin" which can also be bought over the counter at drug stores....works well for me, for minor problems.....

[offramp]

I use ear candles, two, three times a year. Gets an amazing amount of wax out. Decent ones can be had for a reasonable amount at most health food stores.

It's a two-person operation though.

[fantasticsound]

Originally posted by offramp:

I use ear candles, two, three times a year. Gets an amazing amount of wax out. Decent ones can be had for a reasonable amount at most health food stores.

It's a two-person operation though.

I've heard of these before, but never used one. Would you please elaborate on how they work, in practical application? I've always wanted to try one.

[D_dup3]

(1)Miroslav is right to point out that "overcleaning" the ear canal can be detrimintal. You need a certain amount of wax there to protect against infection, etc. It may even be effective in dampening high-impact sounds.

Additionally, cotton swabs, soft as they seem, can scratch the ear-drum or even just the tender skin of the canal, leading to openings for infection. Be careful!

 

(2)Some cleaning systems are not good. Never use anything that has alcohol as an agent, for example; it will dry the residual wax, making it harder & likely to become impacted.

Some chemicals might have similar effects.

 

Anything that requires a water rinse, too, must be followed by a step that either drains the water or allows it to dry thouroughly.

While the general direction from your eardrum to the outer ear is toward the back of the head & slighty downward, not all ear canals have the same shape & many have twists & turns leading to greater difficulty keeping them clear. Water residue can easily become a bacterial breeding ground.

 

(3) The best (& least expensive) method I've heard of was offered to me by an ENT after I suffered several cases of "swimmers ear" caused by the high atmospheric mold content after I moved to Kentucky.

Swab or rinse the canal with any ordinary vinegar every 2~4 weeks. This changes the PH of the area so that bacteria can't live. It also dries more rapidly & completely than plain water but without the "over-drying" effect of alcohol.

 

Since adopting this method I've not had a single problem from either infection or wax buildup.

[Phait]

I can make my eardrums vibrate, I think that's what it is. I can just make whatever it is in inside move, using the muscles - it sounds like a muffled rumbling noise. Is that a bad thing to do? It's one of those stupid tricks that no one can see/hear unless maybe with an earscope or something.

[lakeside studios]

Originally posted by fantastic-hound of the Baskervilles:

Originally posted by offramp:

I use ear candles, two, three times a year. Gets an amazing amount of wax out. Decent ones can be had for a reasonable amount at most health food stores.

It's a two-person operation though.

I've heard of these before, but never used one. Would you please elaborate on how they work, in practical application? I've always wanted to try one.

Neil - I use ear candles too, they're very effective. They're tubular, and you stick 'em in your ear whilst lying on your side, and set fire to 'em. The updraught creates a slight vacuum in the ear canal, and gently sucks the wax out. But as Offramp says, it's a two-person job.......

[g.]

Mix:

 

3 egg whites

1.5 tsp baking powder

1 cup sugar

17 Ritz crackers, crushed

1 cup chopped pecans

1 tsp vanilla

 

Oops - wrong thread.

 

Actually I have a small squeeze bulb made especially for that; works up just enough pressure when filled with warm water to loosen/melt any excess buildup and blow it on out of there. I use it maybe every two or three months. I notice a lot more buildup when I'm playing in smoky bars.

[djwayne]

I'll leave my ear care up to my ear specialist, as it's very easy to punture an ear drum with home remedy type stuff. Then you'd really be screwed.

 

Most doctors recommend you put nothing in your ears, not even Q-tips.

[g.]

Got it from a specialist, along with instruction on its use.

[djwayne]

My doctor recommends keeping the ears as dry as possible, even had little shower caps to cover the ears to keep them dry while taking a shower. Apparently moisture gets in there and bacteria can grow causing an infection. Even sweat or rain can cause a problem.

[DC]

Originally posted by djwayne:

My doctor recommends keeping the ears as dry as possible, even had little shower caps to cover the ears to keep them dry while taking a shower. Apparently moisture gets in there and bacteria can grow causing an infection. Even sweat or rain can cause a problem.

Yeah, it I get water in my ear in the bathtub for example it tickles like crazy and I shake my head like a dog.

 

I had problems hearing last winter so I got some Q-tips and did some exploring. I just stick em in until I feel a tiny contact and then twirl them. Man, got a ton of wax out of my ears; the right one especially. I could hear great after that.

 

This was weird because I'd hardly ever had any noticeable wax in the past.

[offramp]

Originally posted by fantastic-hound of the Baskervilles:

Originally posted by offramp:

I use ear candles, two, three times a year. Gets an amazing amount of wax out. Decent ones can be had for a reasonable amount at most health food stores.

It's a two-person operation though.

I've heard of these before, but never used one. Would you please elaborate on how they work, in practical application? I've always wanted to try one.

It's an ancient Egyptian thing. These are muslin cones soaked in paraffin; you stick the narrow end of the cone in your ear canal, being careful not to push too hard or you'll collapse the end of the cone. Wrap a towel around the base of the cone so it'll stop any ashes from falling on your head. Someone has to light the top of the cone and snip off the burned areas with a pair of scissors every few minutes. If it's working right, you should feel a gentle, warm rush of air in the deepest part of your ear canal. It's very soothing, and if you're in the right mood, it could make you nap-a-licious, and you can't be doing that because you're playing with fire.

When the burn gets to as far down as possible, blow out the cones and unroll the remainder into a bowl of water.

 

You'll be amazed at what you see.

[Phait]

I've always done the Q-tip thing. Got it from my dad. Then I heard it was a bad thing to do. Do I still do it? Of course, I'm stubborn. I have tried water with one of them squeeze bulbs, I guess it works.

[Ouizel]

Originally posted by Phait:

I can make my eardrums vibrate, I think that's what it is. I can just make whatever it is in inside move, using the muscles - it sounds like a muffled rumbling noise. Is that a bad thing to do? It's one of those stupid tricks that no one can see/hear unless maybe with an earscope or something.

Me, too. I use that trick to supply the bass lines to the songs in my head. No real tune, just a rumbling noise, but my imagination takes over and supplies the tune. I write a lot of bass lines this way. I don't know if it's a bad thing or not, nor do I know the mechanism involved. I do know that I don't have to pinch my nose to clear my ears when scuba diving. (or any other time, for that matter. I used to freak out my flight surgeon (In the AF) and my diving instructor by doing it. But, I don't think that the same mechanism is involved, because I can do both at the same time, and I'd think that if it was a pressure control-type thing, it wouldn't be possible to do both simultaneously.

 

You're the only other person I've ever heard of that could do it.

 

I don't remember ever talking about it, either.

 

You're wierd, Phait!

[coyote]

I can make mine click repeatedly. I can do either the left ear alone, or the left & right in sequence. I cannot do the right alone or first, though I can get both ears to click nearly simultaneously.

Originally posted by Ouizel:

Originally posted by Phait:

I can make my eardrums vibrate, I think that's what it is. I can just make whatever it is in inside move, using the muscles - it sounds like a muffled rumbling noise. Is that a bad thing to do? It's one of those stupid tricks that no one can see/hear unless maybe with an earscope or something.

Me, too. I use that trick to supply the bass lines to the songs in my head. No real tune, just a rumbling noise, but my imagination takes over and supplies the tune. I write a lot of bass lines this way. I don't know if it's a bad thing or not, nor do I know the mechanism involved. I do know that I don't have to pinch my nose to clear my ears when scuba diving. (or any other time, for that matter. I used to freak out my flight surgeon (In the AF) and my diving instructor by doing it. But, I don't think that the same mechanism is involved, because I can do both at the same time, and I'd think that if it was a pressure control-type thing, it wouldn't be possible to do both simultaneously.

 

You're the only other person I've ever heard of that could do it.

 

I don't remember ever talking about it, either.

 

You're wierd, Phait!

[Bbach1]

Originally posted by TheWewus:

Don't forget to replace the drums if they show signs of wear.

Oh you mechanics are always trying to upsell.

[ptuzer]

A number of years ago I had a pronlem when sound got too loud about 90db or higher I got a massive ear ache. I went to a ear doctor and had a build up. He told be to use mineral oil in my ear ear everyday for a week. Then I went back for a cleaning. It was massive I thought he put my head under Niagra Falls. He pulled out this massive biuld up that was discusting. But I could here so well after that it was amazing. He told me a natual biuld up is the ears way of self protecting. He told me that only get that type of cleaning only when nessecary. Over cleaning your ears is not a good idea. I followed his advice and have never had to go back.