In This Article
Have you ever wondered how earwax gets out of your ear? I mean, really thought about it? Most people assume it just... happens. Or maybe they think they need to dig it out with cotton buds (spoiler: you absolutely don't, and you shouldn't). But here's the fascinating truth: your body has a built-in, remarkably clever system for moving earwax out of your ear canal. And the star of this show? Your jaw.
Yes, your jaw. The same joint you use to chew, talk, and yawn is also quietly working behind the scenes to keep your ears clean. It's one of those brilliant pieces of human engineering that goes completely unnoticed—until it stops working properly.
Let me explain how this works, why it matters, and what happens when the system breaks down.
The Ear Canal: A Self-Cleaning System
Your ear canal isn't just a passive tube. It's an active, dynamic structure designed to protect your eardrum and inner ear from dust, debris, water, and infections. Earwax—or cerumen, to use its proper name—is the key player in this protective system.
Cerumen is produced by specialised glands in the outer third of your ear canal. It's a mixture of secretions from sebaceous glands (which produce oils) and ceruminous glands (which produce a waxy substance), combined with dead skin cells. The result is a sticky, slightly acidic substance that traps dirt, repels water, and has antimicrobial properties.
But here's the thing: earwax doesn't just sit there. It's supposed to move. Specifically, it's supposed to migrate outward, from the deep part of the ear canal toward the opening, where it dries up and falls out naturally—often without you even noticing.
This outward migration is called epithelial migration, and it's one of the most elegant self-cleaning mechanisms in the human body. The skin lining your ear canal grows in a very specific pattern, moving from the eardrum outward, like a conveyor belt. As the skin cells move, they carry the earwax with them.
And here's where your jaw comes in.
How Jaw Movement Powers Earwax Migration
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ)—the hinge that connects your lower jaw to your skull—sits right next to your ear canal. In fact, the front wall of the ear canal is formed partly by the back of the TMJ. When you move your jaw—chewing, talking, yawning—the TMJ moves too, and that movement directly affects the ear canal.
Every time you chew, the cartilage and muscles around the TMJ flex and shift. This creates subtle but important mechanical forces that help push earwax outward. Think of it like a gentle massage that encourages the wax to keep moving along its natural path.
Studies using time-lapse photography and microscopic imaging have actually documented this process. Researchers have shown that jaw movements create small changes in the shape and volume of the ear canal, which help propel earwax toward the opening. It's not a dramatic push—it's a slow, steady nudge that happens every time you eat, speak, or move your jaw.
This is why chewing is particularly effective. When you chew, especially on something that requires real effort—think crusty bread, raw vegetables, or a good steak—your jaw moves through a full range of motion. That repetitive, vigorous movement maximises the mechanical effect on the ear canal, helping earwax migrate more efficiently.
The Role of Skin Cell Turnover
Jaw movement isn't the only mechanism at play, but it's a critical one. The other key process is epithelial migration—the natural turnover and outward movement of skin cells lining the ear canal.
Your ear canal skin is constantly renewing itself. Old cells die, new cells form, and the entire layer of skin slowly moves outward, like a very slow escalator. This process carries earwax along with it. Research has shown that the skin of the ear canal migrates at a rate of about 0.07 millimetres per day—roughly the same speed at which your fingernails grow.
Jaw movement enhances this process. When you move your jaw, you're not just pushing the wax; you're also stimulating blood flow and cellular activity in the ear canal, which supports healthy skin turnover. It's a beautifully integrated system where mechanical movement and biological processes work together.
What Happens When the System Fails?
So if this self-cleaning mechanism is so brilliant, why do so many people end up with blocked ears? Good question. The answer is that lots of things can interfere with the natural migration process.
Narrow or unusually shaped ear canals can make it harder for wax to move outward. Some people are simply born with ear canals that have sharp bends, narrow sections, or bony growths (called exostoses) that create physical barriers to wax migration.
Excessive wax production can overwhelm the system. Some people's glands just produce more cerumen than others—it's genetic. If you're producing wax faster than your jaw movements and skin turnover can clear it, you're going to end up with a blockage.
Hearing aids, earplugs, and earbuds physically block the ear canal, preventing wax from migrating outward. They also stimulate wax production, creating a double problem. Studies show that hearing aid users are significantly more likely to develop cerumen impaction, precisely because the device interferes with the natural cleaning process.
Cotton buds and other objects are probably the biggest culprits. When you stick something into your ear canal, you're not removing wax—you're pushing it deeper, packing it against the eardrum, and disrupting the natural migration process. I can't tell you how many patients I've seen who've turned a minor wax buildup into a complete blockage by using cotton buds.
Reduced jaw movement can also be a factor. People who eat mostly soft foods, or who have TMJ disorders that limit jaw mobility, may not generate enough mechanical force to keep wax moving efficiently. Older adults, in particular, often experience reduced jaw mobility and changes in wax consistency (it becomes drier and harder with age), both of which contribute to higher rates of impaction.
Skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis can affect the ear canal, disrupting the normal skin turnover process and altering wax consistency. This can slow or stop the natural migration of cerumen.
Why Chewing Matters More Than You Think
Given what we know about jaw movement and earwax migration, it makes sense that chewing plays an important role in ear health. And there's some interesting research to back this up.
Studies have found that people who chew gum regularly—particularly sugar-free gum—tend to have lower rates of earwax buildup. The repetitive jaw movement stimulates wax migration and helps keep the ear canal clear. It's not a cure-all, and it won't fix a blockage that's already formed, but as a preventive measure, it's surprisingly effective.
Similarly, diets that include more chewy, fibrous foods—raw vegetables, whole grains, tough meats—may support better ear health by encouraging more vigorous jaw movement. This isn't something you'll find in official dietary guidelines, but it's a logical extension of what we know about the biomechanics of earwax migration.
Conversely, diets dominated by soft, processed foods may contribute to earwax problems, particularly in older adults who already face age-related changes in wax consistency and jaw mobility. It's one of those small factors that adds up over time.
Yawning, Talking, and Other Jaw Movements
It's not just chewing. Any jaw movement can help. Yawning, for example, involves a wide opening of the jaw and stretching of the TMJ, which creates significant changes in ear canal shape. That's why some people notice a temporary improvement in hearing or a feeling of "opening up" in the ear after a big yawn—it's the mechanical effect on the ear canal.
Talking also helps, particularly if you're an animated speaker who uses a lot of jaw movement. Singers and actors, who use their jaws extensively, may benefit from this natural ear-cleaning effect, though I'm not aware of any studies specifically looking at this population.
Even facial expressions that involve jaw movement—smiling, laughing, grimacing—contribute to the process. It's all part of the same biomechanical system.
What This Means for Ear Care
Understanding the role of jaw movement in earwax migration has some practical implications for how we think about ear care.
First, it reinforces the message that you shouldn't interfere with the natural process. Your ears are designed to clean themselves. Sticking cotton buds, bobby pins, or other objects into your ear canal disrupts this process and often makes things worse.
Second, it suggests that maintaining good jaw mobility and function is important for ear health. If you have TMJ problems, chronic jaw pain, or limited jaw movement, it's worth addressing those issues—not just for your jaw, but for your ears too.
Third, it highlights the importance of diet and chewing. Whilst it's not a magic bullet, ensuring you chew your food thoroughly and include some chewy, fibrous foods in your diet may help support natural earwax migration.
Finally, it helps explain why certain populations are at higher risk of earwax blockage. Older adults, people with TMJ disorders, and those who wear hearing aids or earplugs all face challenges to the natural jaw-driven cleaning process. For these groups, regular professional ear checks and cleaning become particularly important.
When the System Needs Help
Even with a perfectly functioning jaw and healthy ear canal, some people will still develop earwax blockages. Genetics, anatomy, and environmental factors all play a role. When the natural system isn't enough, professional ear care is the answer.
At Earwax Removal Devon, we use safe, modern techniques—primarily microsuction—to remove earwax without disrupting the ear canal's natural function. Microsuction is gentle, precise, and doesn't involve water or pushing instruments deep into the canal. It works with your ear's anatomy, not against it.
We also provide advice on how to support your ear's natural cleaning process: avoiding cotton buds, managing hearing aid use, and recognising the early signs of wax buildup so you can seek help before it becomes a complete blockage.
The Bigger Picture: Appreciating Your Body's Design
Here's what I find most remarkable about the jaw-earwax connection: it's a reminder of how interconnected our bodies are. Your jaw isn't just for eating and talking—it's also part of your ear's self-cleaning system. Your skin isn't just a protective barrier—it's an active, moving structure that carries waste outward.
These systems work quietly, constantly, without you ever thinking about them. Until they don't. And when they fail, it's often because we've interfered—by sticking things in our ears, by wearing devices that block the canal, or simply by not recognising the signs that something's wrong.
Understanding how your jaw helps remove earwax doesn't just give you a fun fact to share at dinner parties (though it does do that). It gives you a deeper appreciation for your body's design and a better understanding of how to care for your ears.
Keep Your Ears Healthy
So, what's the takeaway? Your jaw is working hard to keep your ears clean, and you should let it do its job. Chew your food thoroughly. Don't stick things in your ears. Pay attention to symptoms like muffled hearing, ear fullness, or tinnitus, and seek professional help when needed.
If you're in Devon and experiencing earwax problems, we're here to help. At Earwax Removal Devon, we understand the natural mechanics of ear health, and we work with your body's systems—not against them—to restore clear, comfortable hearing.
Your ears are designed to clean themselves, with a little help from your jaw. But when they need extra support, professional care is safe, effective, and often quicker than you think.
Book your appointment today and let us help your ears get back to doing what they do best. Call 01769 302119 or visit our booking page.
