10 ‘Good’ Hygiene Habits That Can Destroy Your Health

Using cotton swabs

If you were to ask 100 Americans how they feel about cotton swabs, most of them would probably tell you they’re a must-have in every home.

However, specialists don’t think the same way.

In fact, as Brande Plotnick, MS, MBA, says, ear canals don’t need any special tools to be cleaned. Whenever you take a shower, the water entering the ear canal can wash away the extra wax that has accumulated. Additionally, you can also wipe your ears with a towel.

Cotton swabs can penetrate the ear canal more than necessary. Not only do they take away protective wax that can keep your internal ear safe, but they can even lead to punctured eardrums and ear infections over time.