Should you use earplugs for sleeping at night?

Many people have trouble sleeping at night. They can be very light, have a partner snoring, noisy neighbors or live near a busy street. Regardless of the reason, however, not getting enough sleep can have a negative effect on the overall mental and physical well-being of the individual. Living in such a noisy world, it is no wonder that people start looking for ways to create a peaceful and relaxing environment so they can sleep well.

One way to do this is to use earplugs for sleeping. Earplugs are a popular solution for blocking or reducing incoming loudness and protecting your ear against dangerous sound and environments such as rock concerts or heavy machinery. However, many people use earplugs for sleeping at night to help get a good night's sleep. Although sleeping earplugs are very useful, their application should be treated with caution, as they can cause problems such as discomfort and inconvenience, and in rare cases problems such as inner ear, tinnitus, and hearing loss.

Compaction and infections from ear wax

To avoid ear problems, everyone should try to create good hearing hygiene, and have annual checkups with a hearing professional. The natural form of the ear is protected by a secretion of a substance called cerumen. Earwax protects sensitive parts of the ear from dirt, dust, and small particles and pushes them out of the ear canal. Inappropriate earplugs for sleeping uses  may block this process and therefore cause earwax compaction.
An accumulation of hardened earwax can be uncomfortable and even painful. It will also prevent the sound from reaching the eardrum. It is, therefore, important to insert earplugs carefully and gently. Make sure the earplugs for sleeping are clean (if reusable) and follow the manufacturer's instructions on earplugs for single use. A combination of moisture, heat in the ear and dirt collected in the soft foam plug can be an ideal environment for the growth of bacteria and fungi that can cause serious ear infections.

Using discomfort and pressure buildup

If you are wearing earplugs for sleeping all night long, it is important to find the most comfortable pair - you may have to try several different materials. Some retailers allow you to purchase a couple of test drives. Lying on the side can be uncomfortable if earplugs are too big or feel too hard. Try not to push the sleeping earplugs into the ear canal too deep or too hard. If you create a seal by increasing the pressure behind the earplugs, it can be very painful if earplugs are so.

Other possible hazards
Having a good night's sleep is important, but keep in mind that if you use earplugs, over time, you can become dependent on them and not be able to sleep well without them. Also, make sure that alarm signals from emergency devices such as smoke alarms can still be heard through earplugs.
Earplugs for sleeping are a solution to reduce noise and sleep well but be aware of the potential risks to hearing health.