How to Replace Good Bacteria of the Ears

The human ear is an ideal place for bacteria to grow, warm, moist and dark. Thankfully your ears produce a natural antibacterial solution--earwax. When it comes to ears, there is no good bacteria; bad bacteria can cause infection, and fungal growth in your ear canal. Earwax protects, lubricates and cleans your ears. By allowing your ear canal and earwax to do their natural job, you'll keep your ears in good health and keep bad bacteria out.

Instructions

Earwax

• 1

  Don't put anything smaller than your elbow into your ear. According to the American Academy of Otolaryngology, good ear health starts with discontinuing the use of cotton-tipped swabs. Your ears are delicate structures; using cotton swabs, bobby pins, twisted tissues or any other object to clean out earwax puts your ability to hear at risk. Probing your ear with objects only pushes earwax deeper into your ear canal, and could expose your ear to harmful bacteria.

• 2

  Clean only the outside of your ears. According to the American Academy of Otolaryngology, wash your external ear with a cloth, but don't insert anything into your ear canal. The skin inside your ear canal has special sebaceous glands for producing earwax. Earwax traps dust and dirt particles to keep debris from reaching your ear drum. Earwax dries and comes out of your ear on its own. Cleaning your outer ear will remove any dry dirty wax that has fallen out of your ear canal, while still allowing the wax inside of your ear to do its job.

• 3

  Schedule an ear exam with your physician if you have symptoms of earwax impaction. According to the American Academy of Otolaryngology, ear canals should never have to be cleaned, however, sometimes enough earwax accumulates to block your ear canal. If you feel fullness or aching in your ear, have sudden hearing loss, ringing in your ear, or foul-smelling discharge, consult your physician.