Sometimes, we hear medical advice but don’t really pay attention to it.
We sip on our favorite hot drinks in the morning, possibly harming our throats with long-term damage. And, come on, who hasn’t picked their nose, despite knowing it can irritate the sensitive lining inside and even lead to bleeding while introducing bacteria into our bodies?
And those are just a couple of the obvious medical no-nos we consciously do.
Turns out, when it comes to our noses and throats, there are quite a few other health missteps we might be making without even realizing it.
Dr. Tonia L. Farmer, a certified otolaryngologist, shared some thoughts on TikTok about five everyday habits she wouldn’t practice herself as a medical expert in ear, nose, and throat issues.
1. Waxing or plucking nose hairs
If you like the idea of having no nose hair, you might want to think twice.
“Those hairs are there for a reason,” Farmer pointed out. “They serve as your first line of defense against particles entering your airways.”
Removing them through waxing or plucking can result in painful ingrown hairs, swelling, and infections, including things like boils or nasal vestibulitis—a situation where bacteria breach an open wound after a hair is pulled.
Additionally, some blood vessels in the nose connect to veins leading towards the brain, which means, in rare instances, serious infections in this area could lead to complications like cavernous sinus thrombosis.
Farmer encourages trimming the hairs that stick out instead, recommending the use of clean, rounded-tip scissors or an electric nose trimmer.
2. Using an inhaler without rinsing afterward
Pulmonary inhalers help individuals with chronic respiratory conditions, but Farmer has cautioned against the use of steroid-containing inhalers, like Advair, without rinsing the mouth afterward.
A quick rinse can help prevent a yeast infection, which could develop from leftover steroid residue lingering in the mouth and throat. Rinsing can also wash away anything that might lead to a sore throat, cough, or hoarseness.
You typically don’t need to rinse after using a rescue inhaler, like albuterol, unless it’s part of a steroid-containing combo.
3. Popping a pimple in the triangle zone
Kenny Loggins was onto something; the danger zone is closer than you might think.
This triangular area that stretches from the corners of your mouth to the bridge of your nose houses blood vessels connected to the cavernous sinus, a significant venous space within your skull located near the brain.
Some veins in this region actually lack valves, those tiny flaps that help keep blood moving in the right direction.
Popping a pimple or picking at a sore in this area—much like waxing or plucking nose hairs—can open the door for bacteria to enter the bloodstream, resulting in severe infections.
Potential risks include cavernous sinus thrombosis, a rare blood clot in the brain’s venous space, along with meningitis, brain abscesses, and even loss of vision.
4. Snorting drugs
Of course, using recreational drugs is a universally accepted health no-no. But understanding the reasons behind that can sometimes be a helpful deterrent.
Farmer pointed out that repeatedly snorting drugs like cocaine can lead to a perforated septum, which is a hole in the tissue that divides the two sides of the nose.
Chronic use can severely damage the mucosa, the lining of the nasal passages, which might lead to the collapse of the nose.
5. Cleaning a grill with a metal brush
Grills can get pretty grimy, but using metal grill brushes can pose significant safety risks since metal bristles may break off and end up in the food.
“When you consume those foods, you might accidentally lodge those fibers in your throat,” Farmer noted. “Trust me, I’ve had to remove them in surgery.”
A study from 2026 estimated that around 5,470 people went to US emergency rooms between 2002 and 2003 because they swallowed or inhaled stray bristles from BBQ brushes.
Fortunately, there are safer alternatives available, such as plant-fiber brushes, pumice stones, nylon-grit pads, and wooden scrapers.
