BUFFALO, N.Y. — Removing ear wax may sound humorous, unless you need it done. Then it can be a personal emergency that can hinder hearing and cause pain. The need is more prevalent among older people.

You've probably used cotton swabs to clean your ears. Here's why ENTs say you shouldn't. (Getty Images) "Don’t put anything smaller than your elbow in your ear." It's the kind of thing you may have ...

You may have been taught to clean your ears with a Q-tip or cotton swab -- and even enjoy how satisfying it can be -- but Q-tips aren't the safest method and can actually harm your ears. After all, ...

Ear wax, medically known as cerumen, serves as your body’s natural cleaning and protection system for the ears. While some odor is normal, understanding when that smell signals a problem can help ...

Using cotton swaps inside your ear can cause damage, impacted earwax, or infection. If your ears feel plugged up, a healthcare professional can clean them. Many people use cotton swabs to clean their ...

Earbuds, often thought to clean earwax, actually cause harm by pushing wax deeper, irritating the ear canal, and increasing infection risks. Your ears are self-cleaning; this habit disrupts the ...