It is recommended to get your ears cleaned every 6-12 months, depending on your ear health and wax buildup. Some people require more frequent wax removal. If you think you have a build up of wax, book an appointment.

Our ear cleaning methods are gentle and should not cause pain, but you may feel some pressure or discomfort during the process. Excessive wax build up can cause pressure on the ear drum. This may cause some discomfort during cleaning.

Professional ear cleaning can help remove excess wax, debris, and bacteria from the ear canal, promoting better hearing and reducing the risk of infections. 

Proffessional ear wax removal has very few risks. The most common risk is mild discomfort in the ear for a short period after cleaning. This can occur if there has been a significant wax build up. 

On very rare occasions, as the wax is removed and the ear canal is opened up, the air flow and sound through the ear canal may cause temporary tinnitus. This usually occurs in people that have suffered tinnitus in the past, or the wax build up has been masking existing tinnitus.

The skin is thinner inside the ear canal and for some people it is very delicate, dry or flaky. If the skin is irritated during the cleaning process, this may cause temporary light bleeding.

The rarest risk is infection. Occasionally, the wax build up has been allowing a build up of bacteria within the ear canal, especially close to the ear drum. As the wax is removed, this may reveal an existing infection. 

For more information, or a complete list of possible risks, contact us or your local GP/ENT specialist.

Cotton buds can be useful to gently clean the outer ear, but when pushed into the ear, they can force the wax further into the ear canal and towards the ear drum. This can worsen the build up of wax and compress it, which can potentially lead to an ear infection. Why not ask at your next appointment for a demonstration of safe ear cleaning at home.

Oil or a bicarbonate solution from the pharmacy has been proven to soften ear wax, making it easier to remove from the ear. Please speak to a proffessional (GP, Pharmacist, Audiologist or Ear Wax Removal Proffessional) before applying oil or bicarbonate solution.