3 safer ways to remove ear wax than using cotton swabs or Q-tips — according to doctors

Reviews Health Written by Alexandra Frost; edited by Rick Stella 2021-03-31T21:33:49Z Flashpop/Getty Images JUMP TO Section Best water irrigator Best ear drops Best water irrigator for kids Should you remove ear wax? Best water irrigator Best ear drops Best water irrigator for kids Should you remove ear wax? When you buy through our links, Business Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more Ear wax is the natural safeguard for your ear canal, acting as protection against sand, bugs, and dirt getting in and damaging your canal or eardrum. But if ear wax builds up too much, it can impair your hearing — everything sounds muffled, and it can give you that feeling like you are underwater. Instead of reaching for a cotton swab or Q-tip, which experts say aren't safe because they can puncture your eardrum and do other damage, try one of these products instead.According to Omid Mehdizadeh, MD, otolaryngologist (ENT) and laryngologist at Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa...