This is what happens when you put a cotton swab in your ear.
The function of earwax
Earwax has an important function:to protect your ears. Earwax protects your ears against moisture, dry skin, dust, dirt and bacteria. Your ears also clean themselves automatically and earwax plays an important role in this.
Clean with a cotton swab When you think you have outsmarted your body's processes and clean your ear canals with a cotton swab, you run the risk of pushing earwax deeper into your ear. If you push too far, you can even poke a hole in your eardrum.
Too deep in your ear The parts deeper in your ear don't clean themselves. When earwax gets there, it can stay there and cause a virus or infection. If it becomes a serious infection, it can even lead to hearing problems.
Cleaning the pinna
You can use a cotton swab to clean your pinna and the edges of your ears. But resist the temptation to take the ear canal with you.
Advice:stop cleaning
'Yes, but… I can't just stop cleaning my ears, can I?' Cleaning your ear canals makes your ears produce more wax, making you feel like you need to keep cleaning. Stopping cleaning ensures that the natural balance restores itself for most people.
