28 December 2025

Ear Health

The ear is one of the five senses. Many people do not know how to properly maintain ear health.

Here are some steps you can take to maintain ear health:

1. Stop the habit of ear picking
   Many people use cotton buds, paper clips, or even hairpins to clean earwax. Be careful, as this habit can actually injure the ear and push the wax deeper.

2. Keep ears away from loud noises
   Do not use earphones or headphones for an hour continuously. Give your ears a 5-minute break before listening to music again. If you work in a noisy environment, such as a factory or construction site, you are advised to use earplugs to protect your hearing

3. Avoid using ear candles
   In fact, many doctors do not recommend using ear candles because this method has not been proven effective for cleaning the ears and its benefits for ear health are unclear. Instead of being beneficial, using ear candles can be dangerous, as it can cause injuries to the ear, such as burns or blockage of the ear canal.

4. Keep ears dry
   Frequent moisture or wetness in the ears allows bacteria and fungi to thrive inside. This can trigger irritation and ear infections. Don’t forget to always dry your ears with a clean, dry towel after swimming or showering.

5. Have regular ear check-ups
   Routine ear check-ups with an ENT doctor are also important to maintain ear health and detect any problems. During this check-up, the doctor will evaluate the condition of your ears and hearing by performing a physical examination of the ear and hearing tests. You should have an ear check-up with an ENT doctor every 3-5 years.

Reviewed by: dr. Innosensius Ibnu Ishwara, M.K.K.

Source: Ministry of Health' Health Article

Photo: freepik.com