The myth of Q-Tips?

[shaniac]

Today, a doctor told me that Q-tips, aka cotton swabs, are NOT a good way to remove waxy buildup from one's ears. In fact, Q-tips might even be the CAUSE of said waxy buildup.

Can anyone confirm this?

[NLSoldier]

i dont see how they could possibly be the cause.

[iMsoLucky0]

Well then how are you supposed to remove the wax?

With your finger?

[CheckRaise]

I have also heard this. If you think about it it makes sense because when you push the q-tip in the ear it compacts most the wax.

[Eurotrash]

a doctor told me this as well. I think his exact words were, "the smallest thing you should be putting in your ear is your elbow"

[benza13]

[ QUOTE ]
i dont see how they could possibly be the cause.

[/ QUOTE ]

From what I understand after having some problems with ear wax, q-tips are bad because most people use them improperly and jam the wax further down into their ears, eventually causing problems. If you only use them on the outside areas of the ears you are safe, but as soon as you start entering the ear canal, you can cause problems.

[swede123]

This is true. You actually push the wax farthe into the ear canal and eventually the eardrum can become obscructed. Of course this varies between people; some folks don't get much build-up, even using q-tips for years. One of my ears actually got totally blocked a few years ago, partially from using Q-Tips. Now I don't use them anymore and I haven't had more problems.

Swede

[CheckRaise]

[ QUOTE ]
Well then how are you supposed to remove the wax?

With your finger?

[/ QUOTE ]

Get your ears flushed, or put drops in the ears to help dissolve the wax.

[TheMainEvent]

I wonder how many people have been murdered by the Q-Tip people in the coverup of this discovery

[Reqtech]

If I can't use Q-Tips, I don't want to live.