Have you looked at the earplugs carefully recently? I did, and I was shocked by the severity of them. My trusty Apple Airpods became so clumsy, using ear wax, and I was really embarrassed and almost reluctant to put things back into my ears.
But are my yellowed airpods actually risking my health? I asked Dr. Jonathan Webster, Dickliffe's general practitioner, who explained that although the ear waves are protective and are part of the normal cleaning process for the ear, "there's a problem because long-term use of ear plugs will prevent it. The wax naturally migrates outwards - so it accumulates, traps moisture, making it susceptible to infection."
The earbuds can also penetrate the ear waves deep into the ear canal, resulting in blockage and discomfort. Your Ent surgeon likes the saying that there is a reason: “Don’t put anything smaller than the elbow in your ear.” Dr. Webster also explained: “There is definitely an increase in the problems associated with using earplugs, Including hearing loss, tinnitus and infections.”
Hearing loss has nothing to do with my poor headphone cleanliness, but it is worth remembering that “long-term exposure to loud noise can damage the very delicate hair cells (cochlears) in the inner ear, resulting in permanent hearing loss. With the help of in-ear headphones , there is a certain sound concentrated in the ears, which may make it more likely to cause problems.”
It is also worth noting that the UK's National Health Service recommends that headphone users should not listen to music at a height of 60% of the maximum volume, rather than more than an hour at a time.
Chris Haslam
There is no large amount of clinical research on headphone cleanliness, but according to an ABC 11 survey conducted back in 2019, Dr. Michael Taveirne, a microbiologist from North Carolina State University, wiped several different headphones, and These cultures were sent to the test. The results show that Staphylococcus and Pseudomonas, two types of bacteria, can cause infection under appropriate circumstances.
Similarly, according to ENT Professional Headphone House in Florida, the bacteria are 2700 times more germs than regular cutting boards and six times more germs than kitchen sinks. This is quite a glitch, but even then you can't guarantee that you will get infected.
Bacteria are not problematic in nature, but if your earplugs are incorrect and you are always fiddling with them, there is a higher risk of scratching or damaging the ear canal, which will bring ideal conditions for bacteria to reproduce. Add to exercise and sweating for hours of clothing every day, and you may feel annoying surprises.
So your earbuds are disgusting – but luckily, it’s very easy to safely restore cleanliness by simply using some home essentials.