Earwax

You should feel lucky—you probably never had to have a doctor pull a cockroach out of your ear after it decided your ear canal was a perfect sleeping bag. That can (but rarely does) happen, says David Edelstein, M.D., an otolaryngologist at Manhattan Eye, Ear, and Throat Hospital in New York City. The more common problem is earwax that's formed a hard little plug next to the eardrum and has to be removed by a doctor. Here's how to prevent that from happening.

Stick nothing in your ear. That old clichŽ, "Never put anything smaller than your elbow into your ear," is one ear doctors swear by. Never stick anything sharp—a bobby pin, a pencil tip, a paper clip—into your ear, because you could tear your eardrum. Don't use a cotton-tipped swab or finger, either, says George W. Facer, M.D., an otolaryngologist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Even while you think you're cleaning out your ear, you are really ramming the wax deeper so it acts like a plug over your eardrum.

Drop in a softening fluid. A few drops of some liquids you probably already have at home can soften your earwax. Try hydrogen peroxide, mineral oil, or glycerin for inexpensive cleaning, says Dr. Facer. Or buy an over-the-counter cleaner such as Debrox or Murine Ear Drops, says Dr. Edelstein.

Add a drop or two of one of the liquids to each ear. Allow the excess to flow out of your ear. The liquid left inside will bubble away at the wax and soften it. Try this for a couple of days.

Once the wax is soft, you're ready to rinse. Fill a bowl with body temperature water, says Dr. Facer. Fill a rubber bulb syringe with the water, then, holding your head over the bowl, squirt the water gentlyinto your ear canal. The stream of water should be under very little pressure. Turn your head to the side and let the water run out.

Blow-dry your ears. Don't rub your ears dry, say doctors. Instead, dry your ear with the hair dryer or drop a little alcohol in each ear to complete the drying. Do this after the procedure and also every time you shower.

Make it a habit. A once-a-month ear wash is plenty for anyone, says Dr. Edelstein. More than that and you're washing away your protection.

PANEL OF ADVISERS

David Edelstein, M.D., is an otolaryngologist at Manhattan Eye, Ear, and Throat Hospital in New York City.

George W. Facer, M.D., is an otolaryngologist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.