A Japanese bamboo ear pick with a down puff

A metal ear pick

Ear picks, also called ear scoops or auriscalpium (other languages: Chinese: 耳勺; pinyin: ěr sháo; Dutch: wattenstaafje; Japanese: 耳掻き), are a type of curette used to clean the ear canal of ear wax (cerumen). These are traditionally made from bamboo or precious metals such as silver or gold but now also from stainless steel or plastic. Image File history File links From ja:Wikipedia. ... Image File history File links From ja:Wikipedia. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Noun A spoon-shaped surgical instrument for cleaning a diseased surface. ... Cerumen, commonly known as earwax, is a yellowish, waxy substance secreted in the ear canal of humans and many other mammals. ... Diversity Around 91 genera and 1,000 species Subtribes Arthrostylidiinae Arundinariinae Bambusinae Chusqueinae Guaduinae Melocanninae Nastinae Racemobambodinae Shibataeinae See the full Taxonomy of the Bambuseae. ... General Name, Symbol, Number silver, Ag, 47 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 11, 5, d Appearance lustrous white metal Standard atomic weight 107. ... General Name, Symbol, Number gold, Au, 79 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 11, 6, d Appearance metallic yellow Standard atomic weight 196. ... The 630 foot high, stainless-clad (type 304L) Gateway Arch defines St. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ...

Types

Other than the wide variety of materials used to make them, earpicks vary widely in their tips and embellishments. Disposable plastic ear picks with a cotton swab at one end are increasingly popular.

Tips

• Ladle: The traditional and most commonly seen type of tip for the ear pick. They consist of a tiny (2-5 mm) spoon or spatula that is used to scrape and scoop out ear wax.
• Wire loops: Tips made of multiple small and bent semi-nested loops of wire. The loops scrape and dislodge ear wax, which is then lodged in between the loops of wire. Due to the flexibility of the wire, it is said that this type of tip is less likely to cause damage to the ear canal if used with too much pressure. This tip does not function well in removing wet-type ear wax. A variation of this are wire loops twisted into a spiral, similar in shape to the tips of cotton swabs.
• Disks: Multiple circular disks, typically three, extend as hoops out from a thin cylindrical shaft. Disk tips are said to be more efficient at removing ear wax since the circumference of the ear canal can be cleaned without having to rotate the tip.

A millimetre (American spelling: millimeter), symbol mm is an SI unit of length that is equal to one thousandth of a metre. ... A spoon. ... A common spatula design A spatula, known as a fish slice in British English, is a kitchen utensil with a long handle and a broad flat edge, used for lifting fish and fried foods. ...

Embellishments

• Down puff: A ball or "puff" of goose down is located at the opposite end of the ear pick away from the tip. This is used to clean out tiny specks of flaky ear wax that may have broken off during the process of ear cleaning.
• Safety Stop: A means of preventing deep insertion into ear canal to prevent ear drum injury.
• Illumination: A light bulb or LED shines light through the clear plastic tip (usually a Ladle type) of the ear pick to illuminate the inside of the ear canal, which eases ear cleaning.
• Figurines: A plastic or wooden figure, such as a small Daruma or cartoon characters are placed at the opposite end of the tip. They exist mainly to enhance the aesthetics of the ear pick.
• Toothpick: Some earpicks end with a pointed tail, which is used as a toothpick. This design is common in Chinese and old European earpicks.

Look up goose in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... The down of birds is a layer of fine feathers found under the tougher exterior feathers. ... The light bulb is one of the most significant inventions in the history of the human race, illuminating the darkness of the evening and bringing light indoors at all times in order focus on the task at hand. ... Blue, green and red LEDs. ... Daruma dolls at Daruma-ji temple, Takasaki, Japan Daruma (達磨 or だるま) is the Japanese name for Bodhidharma. ... Wood toothpicks A Toothpick A toothpick is a piece of plastic or other substance such as wood (in this case it may be known as an interdental woodstick) used to remove detritus from the teeth, usually after a meal. ... A European is primarily a person who was born into one of the countries within the continent of Europe. ...

Culture

Ear picks are a commonly used item and preferred for ear wax removal in East Asia. The person having their ears cleaned would lie down with their head in the lap of the person doing the cleaning. It is generally considered a pleasant feeling, like having one's back scratched. The cleaning of ears is thus considered an act of intimacy, often performed by a mother to a child or, among adults, by one's lover. It may also be performed alone or by professional (non-medical) ear cleaners on the streets of cities in countries such as China, India, Japan, Vietnam, and other Asian countries. East Asia Geographic East Asia. ... Definition Intimacy is complex in that its meaning varies from relationship to relationship, and within a given relationship over time. ...

Hazards

The practice of ear picking poses several serious health hazards to the human ear. The most obvious danger is that of accidentally puncturing the ear drum while ear picking.

Apart from the danger of punctured ear drum, there is also the possibility of ear infection from the usage of unsterilized ear picks, especially when ear picks are shared among different individuals by the street ear cleaners of India.

Ear picks may also be ineffective and dangerous when used by one with little experience or guidance. Although some wax is seen when the pick is removed from the ear, the majority of the wax may have been pushed deeper into the ear due to the "ram-rod effect" of incorrect technique.

See also

• Earwax
• Toothpick

Wet-type human earwax on a cotton swab. ... Wood toothpicks A Toothpick A toothpick is a piece of plastic or other substance such as wood (in this case it may be known as an interdental woodstick) used to remove detritus from the teeth, usually after a meal. ...

External link

• Cleaning your ears Deafness Research UK
• Indian Street Ear Picker
• SWINDLE Magazine article on ear picking