Is it possible to damage your ears by cleaning with a toothpick?

Question

I like using the blunt end of a toothpick to clean and scratch my ears. Can this make me deaf or damage my ears?

Answer 1

If you put it to far in your ear it could rupture your ear drum. That could be bad..but I guess as long as you dont stick it any further than an q-tip it wont hurt you..Just be careful!!

Answer 2

Yup; one ear drum puncture coming up! And an ear drum puncture is excruciating! Use a Q Tip and even then be careful. I found pouring in a tiny bit of peroxide helps clean my ears and I don't put any object in there; the old rule of thumb was never put anything in your ear smaller than your elbow. Example of your toothpick method; let's say you are momentarily startled, the phone rings, the dog barks, etc your hand slips and you plunge the toothpick right through your ear drum...not worth the risk, trust me.

Answer 3

Outer ear trauma
The auricle can be easily damaged. Because it is skin-covered cartilage, with only a thin padding of connective tissue, rough handling of the ear can cause enough swelling to jeopardize the blood-supply to its framework, the auricular cartilage. That entire cartilage framework is fed by a thin covering membrane called the perichondrium (meaning literally: around the cartilage). Any fluid from swelling or blood from injury that collects between the perichondrium and the underlying cartilage puts the cartilage in danger of being separated from its supply of nutrients. If portions of the cartilage starve and die, the ear never heals back into its normal shape. Instead, the cartilage becomes lumpy and distorted. Wrestler's Ear is one term used to describe the result, because wrestling is one of the most common ways such an injury occurs. Cauliflower ear is another name for the same condition, because the thickened auricle can resemble that vegetable.

Answer 4

You can definitely damage your ears. Although cotton swabs, for example, or commonly used to clean ears, they're not supposed to be used for that either. You could rupture your eardrum, which will cause a loss of hearing. I don't remember where I heard this, but someone once said that you should not stick anything smaller than your elbow into your ear.

Answer 5

Get some q tips. They're cushioned. Even though it's the blunt end of a toothpick, they can puncture your eardrum and
cause some big problems.

Answer 6

Yes it really is a dangerous thing to do. You'd be far better using a broom stick with ears as large as yours Mr Potato Head.

Answer 7

Never put anything smaller than your elbow in your ear.

Answer 8

Um, YEAH! You could accidentally puncture your ear drum.

Answer 9

Uh YEAH!! A q- tip can damage your ear if you dont use it right!! Be careful!

Answer 10

Never put anything in your ears smaller than your elbow..
That was what an E.N.T. told me once....