How to choose silicone earplugs?

Good sleep is very important for a person's health, general well-being and mood. Therefore, a comfortable stay is extremely important. And if extraneous noise is not always possible to eliminate, silicone earplugs will come to the rescue. It is worth knowing how to choose them correctly.

Silicone earplugs are products in the form of cones. They are hypoallergenic, elastic and soft. You can use them repeatedly. It is enough just to rinse with warm water and wipe dry, you can treat it with alcohol. Silicone is used in sheet or thermoplastic... The first type is more wear-resistant, but they are selected only according to the shape of the ear. But the second type is soft and can take any shape. Anatomical earplugs can be made to order, providing all the sizes required for this.

Products are usually designed to absorb noise in the 20-40 decibel range.... Even if they are very comfortable, and they are not felt, doctors do not recommend getting carried away with them. Sleeping with earplugs in your ears every day is not worth it.

Better to use them in certain situations. These include:

• long travel by plane, train or bus;
• if windows are open in summer and there is a train station or airport nearby, so the horns of trains and the noise of airplanes prevent you from falling asleep;
• if you absolutely need a nap, and the neighbors decide to listen to music or drive a nail into the wall;
• if a family member snores heavily.

There are a number of factors to consider when choosing the right earplugs.

• Material... Earplugs are made from different materials, for example, wax, polypropylene foam, polyurethane. But the most popular are silicone ones, since they are made of a plastic material.
• The degree of elasticity. This factor plays an important role, because the tighter the product fits inside the auricle, the better the sound is absorbed. In addition, comfort depends on this, and this is very important for sleep.
• Product softness... Earplugs should be soft so that they do not press anywhere, do not rub the skin, or cause irritation.
• Security... This factor is also worth paying attention to. And here, too, silicone options win. They are easily processed with warm water, alcohol, peroxide, and hygiene is very important.
• Ease of operation. Comfortable earplugs are those that fit easily into your ear and fit snugly without creating empty space. They should not protrude much beyond the edge of the ear, otherwise it will be uncomfortable to sleep.
• Noise protection. For sleep, experts recommend using options with protection up to 35 decibels. It is believed that this is enough for sleep.
• For some, the manufacturer may also matter.... In this case, you should pay attention to those who have already proven themselves to be the best in the production of these products. These include companies such as Hush, Ohropax, Alpine Niderlands, Moldex, Calmor, Travel Dream.

So that nothing interferes with sleep and rest is comfortable, you need to insert the earplugs correctly. To do this, with one hand, you need to slightly pull the earlobe, and with the other insert the plug into the ear. In this case, it must be carefully squeezed with your fingers, inside the auricle it will take the desired shape. You shouldn't try to push the earplugs as far as possible. If they are made of quality material and inserted correctly, they will not fall out anyway. They can also be easily removed from the ears after sleep.

You can use reusable earplugs for up to a year. The main thing is to properly clean them so as not to infect. To do this, take a cotton pad, moisten it in an alcohol solution and wipe it. Or wash under running water with soap and wipe. Earplugs should be stored in a special box or bag, so they will not become dusty, dirty or lost. If the earplugs protrude too far beyond the edge of the ear, they can be cut to fit. Since they are soft enough, this manipulation is easy with clean, sharp scissors.

See below for tips on choosing earplugs.