There are people who sneeze more loudly than others due to their lung capacity, allergies and natural causes. Whatever the reason, a loud sneeze can be embarrassing and annoying in a quiet environment. You can try to muffle the sneeze, or you can stop the reflex completely. Get ready!
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Muting the Sound
Step 1. Sneeze into something
Always have a paper handkerchief or thick handkerchief handy. A paper handkerchief is portable and disposable, but a tissue handkerchief will muffle the sound better. If you have no choice, hide your nose in your shoulder, arm, or crook of the elbow. Any fabric or part of the body will help muffle the sound of your sneeze.
Step 2. Clench your teeth and jaw to suppress sound
Leave your mouth slightly open so that you don't build up too much pressure in your nose. If done correctly, this technique should decrease the intensity of your sneeze.
If you hold your breath at the same time, you may even be able to stop the sneeze early
Step 3. Cough while sneezing
Make sure you do it at the right time. By combining the sneeze reflex with the cough reflex, you may decrease the sound and loudness of both sounds.
Method 2 of 2: Stop the Sneeze
Step 1. Hold your breath
When you feel a sneeze coming, inhale hard through both nostrils, and hold your breath until the stimulus has passed. You may be able to counteract the sneeze reflex.
- Don't hold your nose. Holding your breath can work, but up to a point, but holding your nose while sneezing can have serious health consequences. It can cause disturbances in the ear and nose passages, cause laryngeal fractures, perforation of the eardrums, changes in the tone of the voice, bulging eyes, and bladder incontinence.
- Keep in mind that while holding back a sneeze can be effective, it could leave you with a stuffy nose.
Step 2. Use the language
Press the tip of the tongue firmly on the roof of the mouth, just behind the incisors. This way you press where the alveolar ridge or gum reaches the palate. Push as hard as you can until the urge to sneeze goes away. If done correctly, this can stop a sneeze in the bud.
This strategy is most effective if you start it the moment you feel a sneeze is coming. The longer the sneeze has time to gain power, the harder it will be to stop it
Step 3. Push your nose up
When a sneeze is coming, put your index finger under your nose and push up slightly. If your timing is right, you may be able to suppress the sneeze. This move should at least decrease the intensity of the sneeze.
Advice
- Don't sneeze. Push the tip of your nose up. There are situations, for example while you are changing lanes while driving, where sneezing can be really dangerous because you involuntarily close your eyes.
- Sneeze into a tissue or paper handkerchief whenever possible. You don't want to spread germs and make other people sick! It is a matter of good manners.
- Go to the bathroom to check for mucus on your face.
- If you feel a sneeze coming, apologize and leave the room you are in.
Warnings
- Sneezing is your body's way of cleaning your nose and sinuses. Don't always hold back sneezing!
- Don't hold your nose! You could cause increased internal pressure in your ears and air passages. Plugging your nose while sneezing can cause laryngeal fractures, ruptured eardrums, changes in tone of voice, bulging eyes, and sudden bladder incontinence.
