Same-day earwax removal can bring swift relief, but the problem can build up gradually. Sometimes, the regular use of earplugs can contribute to the problem, but not in the way some people think it does.
Lots of people need earplugs to help sleep at night – and not just the England football team in their Mexico City hotel before the recent World Cup game.
Whether it is due to a loud snoring partner, noisy neighbours or living next to a busy main road, they can help block out the noise and ensure uninterrupted slumber.
It is little wonder that earplugs are commonly used:
- They can reduce the level of sound reaching the ear by 15-30 decibels
- They have been in use since their invention in 1907
- First made of wax, silicone versions have been available since the 1960s
- Around a third of adults snore occasionally and 13 per cent do so regularly, which can make earplugs very useful for whoever shares the bed with them.
How Can Earplugs Cause An Earwax Problem?
However, while they may be useful sleep aids, many users soon find their ears getting clogged up with wax.
A common mistake is to think that using earplugs causes the ear to generate more cerumen (earwax). This is not true.
Instead, earwax is trapped and compressed by the earplugs, which stop sound from getting in, but also prevent earwax from getting out.
As a result, wax that may have dried up, loosened while your jaw was moving during the day through talking and eating, and eventually fallen out overnight, is left stuck in there.
Moreover, as it builds up, the plugs may push it in even more, making matters worse.
If this has become a problem, swift earwax removal can soon solve it. However, having had this done, you may wish to be more sparing in your use of earplugs, as long as your partner doesn’t snore too loudly!
