India, July 13 -- Do you have the habit of sticking a cotton bud inside your ear to remove earwax? You may view it as a hygiene practice and even make it part of your daily routine, but is it really safe or necessary?ALSO READ: Rise of fungal ear infection in children during monsoon: Doctor shares 5 symptoms and what parents can do

Speaking to HT Lifestyle, Dr Saloni Rajyaguru, ENT specialist at Zynova Shalby Hospital, Mumbai, revealed that earwax actually plays an important role in protecting the ears. Cleaning it too frequently can do more harm than good, which is why earwax should not become a daily habit.

Earwax, medically known as cerumen, is often misunderstood as unhygienic and something that needs to be removed immediately.

The...