Earwax
耳垢
Experts say earwax protects and cleans the ear.
专家说耳垢可以保护耳朵并使耳朵保持清洁，
It traps dirt and other matter and keeps insects out.
它能阻挡尘埃和其他物体，并防止昆虫进入。
Doctors think it might also help protect against infections.
医生认为，耳垢还可以帮助预防感染，
And the waxy oil keeps ears from getting too dry.
耳垢油可以避免耳朵变得过于干燥。
There are two kinds of earwax.
耳垢有两种油，
Most people of European or African ancestry have the "wet" kind,while East Asians commonly have "dry" earwax.
大多数欧洲和非洲人是油性耳垢，而东亚人则普遍是干性耳垢。
The glands in the ear canal that produce the wax make too much in some people.
某些人耳道中的腺体会产生更多的耳垢。
Earwax is normally expelled and it falls out of the ear or gets washed away.
耳垢一般能从耳朵中排出，
But extra wax can harden and form a blockage that interferes with sound waves and reduces hearing.
但耳垢过多会变硬，甚至堵塞耳道，影响听力。
People can also cause a blockage when they try to clean out their ears,but only push the wax deeper inside.
另外，人们在清洁耳垢时也会堵塞耳道，
Earwax removal is sometimes necessary.
因此我们要用安全的方法清理，
But you have to use a safe method or you could do a lot of damage.
否则会对耳朵造成伤害。