Cleaning Nose with Q-Tips
Commonly known as cotton swabs, Q-tips are made up of short, thin, and flexible plastic rods. At each end of this rod is a swab of cotton wool. Because of their convenience and ease of use, Q-tips are commonly used in removing wax from ears. However, many doctors don’t recommend this usage because they can push wax further into the ear canal. This can cause general discomfort or rupture the eardrum.
Q-tips have other uses besides removing ear wax. Cleaning nose with Q-tips is common for people having a congested and dry nose or have had their septum pierced. Q-tips make it easier for them to access the sinus cavity and clean out any dry or hard mucus. However, similar to cleaning the ear, using Q-tips to clean your nose isn’t recommended since it increases the risk of damaging soft nasal tissue.
Using Q-Tips to Clean the Nose
1. Cleaning after nasal and sinus surgery
As mentioned above, Q-tips can also be used to clean the nasal cavity. One can use Q-tips to clean their nose after undergoing nasal and sinus surgery. Nasal openings are likely to have a build-up of bloody crusts after surgery. Q-tips make it easier for you to remove these instead of having to blow your nose.
To remove these bloody crusts, a Q-tip is soaked in half-strength hydrogen peroxide. The strength can be achieved made by mixing equal amounts of peroxide and water. The bloody crusts can then be removed by gently cleaning each nasal opening in a circular motion. This will soften the crusts and allow you to remove them by blowing your nose.
2. Moisturizing a child’s nose
Q-tips can also be used in the nasal care of a child, particularly when moisturizing their nose. A child’s nose can be moisturized by applying an ointment such as Vaseline on each nostril, at least twice a day. To apply this ointment in a child’s nose, dip a clean Q-tip into the ointment.
Once the Q-tip has enough ointment at the end of one of the cotton swabs you can use it to moisturize the child’s nostrils. The Q-tip can be gently rolled inside the child’s nasal cavity to apply a coat of the ointment. The slowly melting ointment can then coat the inner lining of the child’s nostrils.
3. Treating sinus infections
Sinus infections are often characterized by an inflammation of the sinus or nasal passage. Individuals with sinus infections experience symptoms such as headaches or pressure in the nose, eyes or cheek areas. Besides having bad breath, a cough and fever, they can also have nasal congestions that come with thick mucus discharge.
Cleaning nose with Q-tips is one of the simple remedies that can be used to treat a sinus infection. Q-tips can be used to put golden seal paste inside the nostril to help treat the infection. Other people have also managed to drain their congested nostrils by sticking the Q-tip inside their nose canal.
4. Cleaning a nose piercing
Q-tips can be used to remove the crusts that form on the underside of a nose piercing. It’s important to clean the crusting that forms under the piercing. This is because, if the crusting is left to develop, it may tear the skin and cause inflammation in the pierced area.
If you have a pierced septum, you can use an aftercare spray to clean your nose. You can use a Q-tip soaked in this spray to gently rub the back of the ring inside the nostril. You should do this gently so that the stud isn’t pushed out of the nose.
Precautions to Take When Using Q-Tips to Clean the Nose
Despite their effectiveness in moisturizing the nose, draining the nose, and removing crusts, Q-tips aren’t medically recommended for this practice. Other methods of cleaning the nose should be sought after to clean your nose after surgery or when you’ve just had a piercing.
One precaution to take when using Q-tips to clean your nose is doing it gently. This will prevent you from damaging any soft nasal tissue in the process. You also shouldn’t stick the Q-tip too far up in your nose so that you end up rapturing blood vessels. Besides, you should be cautious when using Q-tips to clean you’re a nose piercing since it can leave the cotton micro-fibers around the piercing.
Verdict
Q-tips can come in handy when one has undergone nasal surgery, had a piercing, or has a sinus infection. The Q-tip can be sued to clean the nose under all these circumstances. It helps remove crusts and in draining the nose. It can also be used to apply ointment when moisturizing a child’s nose.
However, precautions have to be taken when using Q-tips. Use them gently when cleaning the nose and don’t stick the far up the nose to avoid rapturing any soft nasal tissue.
