Pushing earwax deeper: Cotton swabs can push earwax further into your ear canal, potentially causing buildups or blockages.

Damaging the eardrum: Inserting a cotton swab into your ear canal can puncture or damage your eardrum, leading to hearing loss, vertigo, or tinnitus.

Introducing bacteria: Cotton swabs can introduce bacteria into your ear canal, increasing the risk of infections.

Scratching the ear canal: Using a cotton swab to scratch an itchy ear can cause micro-tears in the ear canal, leading to inflammation and infection.

Perforating the ear canal: If the cotton swab is inserted too far, it can perforate the ear canal, causing damage to the middle and inner ear structures, pain, bleeding, and potentially permanent damage