Consumer Reports: The eww of ear wax removal kits – my40.tv

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) —

Are you one of those people who enjoys watching videos about cleaning out ears?

Believe it or not, videos with the hashtag “earwax” have amassed more than 5 billion views on TikTok alone. And, you may be surprised by the ways many people clean their own ears. Consumer Reports put their ears to the ground to find out what the safest methods are for removing ear wax.

Maybe you’ve seen gross videos on TikTok, people going to extreme measures to remove ear wax?

Consumer Reports was curious about these and other methods, so it checked out a few ear wax removal products and techniques.

“We saw such high interest in this topic, and, when we looked into it, we found a wide range of products that made us wonder how a consumer should approach all of this,” Consumer Reports Health Editor Catherine Roberts said.

There’s “candling,” where a waxed fabric tube is inserted into the ear, and when lit, the heat supposedly draws debris from inside the ear.

You can buy mini scoops to clean out your ears; some even equipped with a camera so you can view on your phone what’s happening in your ear.

Maybe you’ve seen the soft drill-shaped devices that claim you can twist the wax out of your ear canal? Or one that looks like a wire whisk?

Which ones should you buy? Maybe none, according to ER physician Dr. Mauricio Gonzalez.

“We do not recommend any clearing with any devices or in any shape or form,” said Dr. Mauricio Gonzalez, of Metropolitan Hospital Center.

As for candling, the FDA says to “stay away” and has warned consumers of the risk of burns or injury to the inner ear.

Do you really need to remove ear wax?

Doctors say it actually helps limit bacteria in your ears.

If you have hardened wax, or your body produces an unusual amount, you can use over the counter ear drops to soften it up and make it easier to wash out. But most people don’t have to do anything at all!

“Every time you chew and you move your jaw, this movement by itself expels the excess of ear wax out of your ears. If you feel like there’s something in your outer canal a light cloth should be more enough. Especially after taking a shower,” Gonzalez said.

Hear that? One less thing for you to worry about.

While we’re on the topic of ear wax, Consumer Reports advises cleaning the wax out of your listening devices, like earbuds, once a month. …….

Source: https://my40.tv/news/local/consumer-reports-the-eww-of-ear-wax-removal-kits