Top tips for choosing earplugs for sleeping
There’s nothing better than waking up feeling completely refreshed and well-rested after a satisfying night of sleep. You feel like getting right out of bed and jumping into your day immediately, and you often feel significantly more positive and productive for the rest of the day.
The other side of this is, of course, the frustration you feel when you have a bad night’s sleep, or even multiple nights of poor sleep in a row. Being deprived of high-quality sleep can leave you feeling drowsy, unfocused, forgetful, and unproductive.
In fact, poor sleep has even been associated with a higher risk of various health conditions, including:
- High blood pressure
- Heart problems
- Low mood/depression
- Anxiety
- Diabetes
There are a number of effective ways to improve your sleep quality, from exercise to better sleep hygiene, avoiding caffeine, and more, but one of the simplest options is to use earplugs for sleeping.
In this guide, we take a look at how sleeping with earplugs can improve your sleep, along with tips for choosing the best earplugs for sleeping based on their type, material, size, and more.
Why choose earplugs for sleeping?
Are you a light sleeper? Do you live in a noisy area? Does your partner snore? Do you wake up during the night? If the answer is yes to any of these things, then you could probably benefit from earplugs to help while you sleep.
Another sign that it might be a good idea to wear earplugs while you sleep is if you often feel drowsy or have the urge to nap during the day.
Even if you think you’ve slept through the night, these signs can indicate that you’re suffering from low-quality sleep.
Low-quality sleep is often just as bad as no sleep, as in either case you are not entering all the cycles of sleep necessary to help you recover and feel refreshed.
With the right earplugs for sleeping, you can cut out distractions, leading to more consistent and undisturbed sleep.
Earplugs are designed to reduce the intensity of external sounds, meaning that less noise reaches your eardrums. So if noise is stopping you from sleeping, whether it’s the noise of traffic outside, noisy neighbors, or a snoring partner, these sounds shouldn’t bother you as much when you’re wearing earplugs – which can make it easier to fall asleep and stay asleep.
And if you find it hard to fall asleep when you’re in an unfamiliar environment – like sleeping in a hotel or while traveling – earplugs can be useful. They help to create a more controlled, quieter environment, minimizing the impact of unfamiliar or unpredictable sounds – so you’re more likely to fall asleep, and wake up feeling well rested.
Understanding the types of earplugs for sleep
There are two main types of earplugs for sleep: foam and silicone. While foam earplugs are the most common and usually the cheapest type of earplugs, they are not necessarily the best option.
Foam earplugs for sleeping can vary a great deal in size and shape – and quality – meaning it’s often difficult to find a pair that fits your ears comfortably, which can have a big impact on your ability to sleep.
When using foam earplugs for sleeping, it’s also very easy for them to be pushed too far into your ear canal. At best, this is uncomfortable and can disrupt sleep, and with repeated use it can cause a buildup of earwax. At worst, it can physically damage the inside of your ear, potentially leading to pain and infection.
The advantages of foam earplugs include:
- Cheap
- Mold to the shape of your ear
- Usually block a lot of sound
There are also downsides, as mentioned above. To summarize the disadvantages of foam earplugs:
- Often not designed for repeated use
- Can go too far into your ear canal
- Uncomfortable for many people
- Non-selective sound blocking so unsuitable for some people (e.g. parents)
Silicone earplugs, on the other hand, are usually more expensive – but they’re also reusable. That means that once you’ve chosen the right pair, you can use them again and again – both for sleeping and for other situations, like meditation and finding your focus.
The best earplugs for sleeping are soft and comfortable – and that’s exactly what many silicone earplugs offer, like Loop Quiet earplugs. They’re made from super soft silicone, and come with a choice of four different ear tip sizes, so you can get the perfect fit for you and sleep soundly all night long.
Plus, they offer up to 24 decibels (SNR) and 14 dB (NRR) of noise reduction to reduce the amount of noise you hear. The hustle and bustle outside will fade away, letting you fall easily into a better sleep.
Other benefits of silicone earplugs include:
- Reusable and easy to clean
- More advanced noise-canceling technology
- Available in many different styles
However, on the downside, they are usually more expensive than foam earplugs.
Are earplugs safe for sleeping?
Sleeping with earplugs is generally completely safe, but using the wrong kind of earplugs or using them incorrectly can affect this.
The standard foam earplugs can be especially problematic, as they are usually only available in one size and can easily be pushed too far into the ear canal. This can cause discomfort, earwax buildup, and even physically damage the inner ear.
Additionally, many people reuse disposable foam earplugs for too long, which can cause ear infections to develop. In some cases, these ear infections can cause significant pain and even lasting damage.
Many silicone earplugs are a good alternative to generic foam earplugs, and are usually completely safe to use, even for long periods of time.
Many silicone devices, such as Loop Quiet are available with tips of different sizes, enabling you to find the perfect fit for your ears. They’re also designed to stay in the ideal position in your ears, far enough in to block sound but not deep enough to cause discomfort or damage your ears.
There’s no length of time that you should wear earplugs for, and it will vary from person to person. It’s best to put them in right before you sleep and take them out as you wake up, but wearing earplugs at night is completely safe for most people. As a general rule, you should always remove earplugs if you feel significant discomfort or pain.
If you regularly wear reusable earplugs, it is important to replace them from time to time. Ideally you should switch the ear tips of your Loop earplugs every 3-6 months, if you wear them daily.
What earplugs do doctors recommend?
When looking for the best earplugs for sleeping, it’s common to have questions like,is wearing earplugs at night healthy, are silicone earplugs safe, and so on.
If you’re concerned and you’re looking for serious medical advice about what earplugs to use for sleeping, it’s always best to speak to your doctor.
Generally, however, earplugs are safe, so the best way to find the perfect earplugs is to just try some out and see if they work for you in terms of comfort, style, and noise reduction. Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions regarding a medical condition.
At Loop, we create high-quality earplugs to help you live your life in comfort. Our Loop Quiet earplugs reduce noise levels significantly, helping you relax and get a great night’s sleep, free from the distractions of the outside world.
Final thoughts
If you find it hard to get to sleep, or to stay asleep during the night, Loop Earplugs for sleeping could be your new best friend. They reduce the amount of noise that reaches your ears, meaning it should be easier for you to fall asleep – and stay asleep for longer. And that means you wake up feeling more refreshed and ready for the day ahead.
Loop Quiet earplugs are made from super soft silicone, with a choice of ear tip sizes so you can get the perfect fit for you – meaning they’ll be comfortable to wear all night long.
So, if you’re ready to start feeling more energetic and less sluggish throughout the day, explore Loop Quiet earplugs for a peaceful night’s sleep.
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