If you’re still using Q-tips to clean your ears then it’s about time you stop. Not only are you wasting your money, but you’re also compromising the health of your ear canal.

When he’s not dealing with criticism from his peers, Dr. Oz has been a frequent guest on The Jimmy Kimmel Show, where he shares knowledge about some of the common mistakes we all make in regards to our health. The TV doctor recently sat down with Kimmel to discuss one of the host’s damaging addictions: Q-tip use.

Drawing a wax-caked Q-tip from your eardrum may feel satisfying, but it’s actually counterproductive. Ear wax has a variety of antibacterial and antifungal properties that keep ear canals clean and lubricated. Although Q-tips are effective in cleaning the outer ear, it’s dangerous to push them back farther into the inner ear.

Many people who use Q-tips way too often end up experiencing impacted earwax. The amount of earwax produced by the human body varies from person to person. Those with more earwax can end up with a buildup, which can be annoying, but is not dangerous. By using a Q-tip, some of us push that buildup back into our ear, tamping it down into a kind of plug.

Some of the dangers involved with using Q-tips include ear canal trauma, infection, ruptured eardrums, dislodged tips, and hearing loss. There are more effective ear-cleaning options that don’t involve sticking anything into your head. Dr. Oz suggests using tissue paper and the tips of your own fingers, which are perfectly sized for the outer ear. You can also pick up cerumenolytic solutions, such as mineral oil or glycerin-based ear drops, at your local pharmacy.