Are You Too Much of a Clean Freak?

Keep That Thing Out of Your Ear


Swirling a swab in your ear canal can cause infections and worse. "Push too far and you can rupture your eardrum," says Timothy Hullar, M.D., an assistant professor of otolaryngology at Washington University, in St. Louis. His advice: Do nothing. "You don't really need to clean your ears."

A few people have trouble with earwax buildup, but they can get by with a few drops of hydrogen peroxide (diluted 50/50 with water) or mineral oil a couple times a week. "Olive oil works, too," Dr. Hullar says, "but you may smell like a salad."

Limit Your Nasal Maneuvers


Did you know that nose drops and sprays can be addictive? Allergy nurse Bonnie Dooley, R.N., of Eastern Virginia Ear, Nose & Throat Specialists, sees patients who can't go an hour without a spritz of 12-hour nasal spray. Overuse causes "rebound swelling" and ever-worse congestion. Extreme spritzing can also mess with your blood pressure, which means there could be such a thing as killer nose drops.

Next time you have a stuffy nose, try plain salt water. Drugstores sell squirt bottles of saline solution—cheap. It eases congestion by moistening dry nasal passages, and can't be overused. Taking an antihistamine or inhaling steam can also loosen mucus.

Cut It Out with the Toenail Trimming


Compulsively trimming your toenails can send a nail burrowing back into your flesh. In extreme cases, you can wind up with a bone infection or gangrenous ulcer that may result in amputation.

Even ordinary ingrown toenails often require "removing a portion of nail and cauterizing the nail root so it will not grow back," says Tracey Toback, D.P.M., of Rhinebeck, New York. His advice: "Never wear shoes that are too tight. Always trim toenails straight across. And do not invade the nail bed by trimming too short, or too deep into the margins."

Lighten Up on Your Teeth


"Brushing your teeth does not require a lot of force," says Atlanta-based Ronald Goldstein, D.D.S., author of Change Your Smile. Yet he's treated men who've brushed away their enamel (the outer covering of the teeth) and kept going until the gum tissue receded.

Continued hard brushing wears away the much softer cementum (covering the root), which may lead to an increased chance of sensitivity, decay, and tooth deformity.

How can you tell if you're brushing too hard? Check your brush. If the bristles are frayed or splayed after a few months' use, you may be an offender.

"If you brush correctly," says Dr. Goldstein, "your brush should look pretty much the same after 6 months as it did when you bought it." And, he adds, "check with your dentist or hygienist to make sure you're brushing the right way for your own mouth."

Likewise, flossing is healthy, but not if you garrote your gums. According to Dr. Goldstein, "a lot of people saw through their gum tissue," yanking floss back and forth through that tender flesh. Move floss gently under the gums to nab food particles, then up and down each side of the tooth.

Hygiene Should Be Only Skin Deep


A 2005 survey at ballparks indicated that 37 percent of men didn't wash their hands after making a deposit at the men's room. Creepy, yes, but then there are those of us who can't stop washing.

Some men rub their skin clean off. "They wash and wash an area and then rub it to make sure it's clean," says California dermatologist Julian Omidi, M.D. "That traumatizes the top layer of skin, which then turns thick and brownish. Nerve endings can become further irritated, triggering a vicious circle of itching and rubbing."

Even mildly neurotic overwashing strips skin of natural oils and can turn your epidermis into something like pimple-covered bark. This can happen on your face, where too much soap can send oil glands into overdrive, plugging pores and follicles, which triggers acne.

Remember, as well, that you could stay perfectly healthy with a weekly bath or shower. When you do scrub up, keep a lid on harsh cleansers. "Try alcohol-free skin-care products," says Dr. Omidi. "Use a gentle foaming cleanser, and don't wash more than twice a day."

You don't need to take extreme measures for exfoliation, either: It's a natural. By the time you take your next breath, more than a thousand dead skin cells will have fallen off your body. Exfoliating with abrasive creams or loofahs accelerates the process, but compulsive use can "denude" the epidermis. Don't exfoliate more than two or three times a week.