NEVER use earbuds cleaning ear wax for INFANTS till up to 3yrs

My doc once suggested that there's hardly a need for us human beings to clean ears,as the body removes wax own its own.And we should not hamper the process by tweaking it repeatedly.
Thanks for sharing this info Tulipsandrose!

 

My parents never encouraged using ear buds due to the same reason as Dinny said above. My DD's paed even asked us not to clean the inner ears with clothe.Some people clean the ears of infants with clothes,but it will later lead to infection.

 

Even my paediatrician also suggested not to clean ear with buds

 

This is what our ENT specialist also says. The following is the information, I learnt from him, think, it is worthwhile to share here :

The external ear contains , wax, which , in itself , is not an excretory product. Nature has given a purpose behind it. This wax, is poisonous to small insects. In prehistoric days, when we lived in forest like conditions, insects entered humans' ears frequently. This wax killed those insects.

Wax has a biological purpose, it should not be cleaned periodically. Rarely, the wax gets impacted and gives pain, then it requires removal, that too only partial removal. The ENT surgeon, leaves half of the wax inside, while removing the rest, in cases of 'impacted wax" (excess wax giving rise to pain)

Never put thick fluids like garlic oil or mustard oil in ears. They will do harm, no good. It is a myth to believe that putting garlic oil / mustard oil will give rise to pain relief.

By using ear buds, one damages a fine hair like structure in the inner lining of the external ear, which is technically called, 'cilia'. This microscopic hairy structure on the skin, has a function (do not recollect what it is). Hence, ear bud use should not be done on self decision. Ear buds can be used if and only if an ENT surgeon recommends it.

This is applicable for kids as well as adults.

 

Thanks for the info Dharmesh.