Nasal hygiene

Nasal hygiene consists of cleaning the nose with a saline solution. The nose plays a very important role in filtering air before it reaches the lungs and must be clean to be effective.

Since the ear and the nose are connected by the eustachian tube, nasal congestion leads to poor aeration of the ear, increasing your child’s risk of developing an ear infection. This is why, whether or not there is nasal congestion, daily nasal hygiene is important from your children’s birth onwards and until they are able to blow their nose effectively.

Regular nasal hygiene has several benefits such:

• as the painless removal of secretions and particles from the nose,
• the reduction of congestion and hydration of the nose.

It can also prevent:

• nosebleeds,
• colds,
• ear or sinus infections and coughs,
• or shorten their duration, and reduce the need for antibiotics.

BY VIRGINIE ROY, Audiologist, Polyclinique de l’Oreille