Facts About Earwax

Understanding your ear health and what to expect from your treatment.

Why do we have earwax?

Everyone has earwax—it’s produced by our ears to help protect them from infections and to stop them from feeling dry and itchy. However, too much wax can become hardened and impacted, causing hearing loss, discomfort, pain, and sometimes even infections.

What happens during your appointment?

We carry out an ear health check to make sure your ears are in tip-top condition. We look at your:

  • Outer ear: Checking for skin problems or irritation.
  • Ear canal: Checking for foreign objects, impacted wax, or signs of infection.
  • Eardrum: Checking for health, perforations, or scars.
Before your appointment

We recommend applying 2 to 3 drops of wax removal oil three or four times a day for five days prior to seeing us. This gives us the best chance of removing all wax safely in one visit.

Tip: Do not plug your ears with cotton wool; it absorbs the oil!

What happens next? (Aftercare)

It is normal for your ear to feel a little "odd" for about 30 minutes after removal. Important: Once cleaned, do not use cotton buds or any objects to clean them yourself, as this can lead to impaction and damage your eardrum.

A liberating feeling

Many patients describe the moment their hearing returns as a fantastic, liberating sensation. There is nothing quite like the clarity of hearing clearly again.