Cotton buds / Q-tips & cotton swab are the names of a thing made up of small stick having cotton wool at both ends of the stick. These names are of the same thing, but they are used worldwide with different names around the world suppose in Australia it is known as cotton buds in America the same thing is known as Q-tip. Also, there is a difference between American English and British English. In American English, people call this a cotton swab and in British English, it is called a cotton bud.
Inventor of cotton bud
Leo Gerstenzang invented cotton bud which was named “Baby Gays” in 1923. Her wife was using a toothpick and cotton wad to clean the hard areas. When he realized that he can invent something to help. Then he started a company and manufactured sterilized cotton buds for babies.
He soon named the company “Q-tips Baby Gays”
Use of Cotton bud
A cotton bud is most commonly used for cleaning the ear. There is a natural process in which our ear produces earwax. This earwax is produced for the protection of our ears. Earwax traps dust that goes to our ears from the environment so people usually use cotton buds to clean that wax inside our ears. They are also used to clean the makeup and to clear the nail polish which is surrounded when applied untidily. They also help to clear the eyes and belly button.
Can cotton buds damage the ear?
You must not use cotton buds inside your ear.
It is written on the back of the pack that “do not use inside the ear”. When we use cotton buds it pushes the earwax deeper inside our ear due to which our ear can get damaged as there is no way out for the wax.
They can also damage our ear drums which can result in loss of hearing. In some cases, it can damage our canal and some sensitive parts which help us to hear sounds. They can also cause complete deafness.
Save ways to clean your ears
You can take an appointment with your doctor so he/she can remove the wax easily by ensuring nothing is damaged inside the ear.
Soften the earwax using warm water or glycerin.
Use a cloth to clean the outside part of the ear.