How to Sneeze Quietly

Some people sneeze more loudly than others due to lung capacity, allergies, and natural tendency. No matter the reason, a loud sneeze can be embarrassing and disruptive in an otherwise quiet setting. You can try to muffle the sneeze, or you can try to stop the reflex altogether. Be prepared!

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Muffling the Sound

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    Sneeze into something. Keep a tissue or a thick handkerchief with you at all times. A tissue is portable and disposable, but a handkerchief will do a better job of muffling the sound. If you have no other choice, bury your nose into your shoulder, your arm, or the crook of your elbow. Any fabric or solid body part will help keep your sneeze quiet.
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    Clench your teeth and jaw to suppress the sound. Leave your mouth slightly open so that you don't build up too much pressure in your sinuses. Done correctly, this move should lessen the intensity of your sneeze.[1]
    • If you hold your breath at the same time, you might even be able to stop the sneeze from coming.
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    Cough as you sneeze. Make sure to get the timing just right. By mixing up the reflex to sneeze with the reflex to cough, you might lessen the sound and severity of each noise.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Stopping the Sneeze

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    Hold your breath. When you feel a sneeze coming on, inhale powerfully through both nostrils, and hold in your breath until the urge has passed. You may be able to counteract the sneeze reflex. [2]
    • Do not plug your nose. Holding your breath can be effective, up to a point, but plugging your nose during a sneeze can have serious health consequences. Among other disturbances of the ear and nasal passages, this can cause larynx fractures, ruptured eardrums, voice changes, bulging eyeballs, and bladder incontinence.
    • Bear in mind that while holding a sneeze back might be effective, it also might leave you feeling somewhat stuffed-up.
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    Use your tongue. Press the tip of your tongue firmly into the roof of your mouth, right behind your top two front teeth. This should hit the spot where the alveolar ridge or "gum palate" reaches up to the roof of your mouth. Push as hard as you can until the urge to sneeze goes away. Done correctly, this can stop a sneeze in its tracks.[3]
    • This strategy is most effective if you do it the moment that you feel a sneeze coming. The longer the sneeze has to build, the harder it will be to stop.
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    Push your nose up. When a sneeze is coming, place your index finger beneath your nose and push up slightly. If you time it right, you might be able to suppress the sneeze. At the very least, this move should lessen the intensity of the sneeze.[4]
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Warnings

  • Sneezing is your body's way of cleansing your nose and sinuses. Do not hold in sneezes all the time!
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  • Do not plug your nose! This can quickly build internal pressure in your ears and air passages. Plugging your nose during a sneeze can cause larynx fractures, ruptured eardrums, voice changes, bulging eyeballs, and sudden bladder incontinence.[5]
    ⧼thumbs_response⧽
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References

  1. ↑ http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702304724404577299502885697704
  2. ↑ http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702304724404577299502885697704
  3. ↑ http://www.enkivillage.com/how-to-stop-sneezing.html
  4. ↑ http://www.pattiwood.net/article.asp?PageID=11594
  5. ↑ http://lifehacker.com/5897392/learn-to-quiet-your-high-volume-sneezes

About This Article

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 24 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 155,461 times.
226 votes - 66%
Co-authors: 24
Updated: July 1, 2021
Views: 155,461
Categories: Nose Health

Medical Disclaimer

The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis, or treatment. You should always contact your doctor or other qualified healthcare professional before starting, changing, or stopping any kind of health treatment.

Article SummaryX

It can be hard to stop sneezing loudly, but with a little practice, you can muffle the sound. It may sound obvious, but sneezing into something, like a tissue or the crook of your elbow, can make it quieter. You can also cough as you sneeze, which should cover up the sound you make. Another way to sneeze more quietly is to leave your mouth open slightly and clench your teeth and jaw as you sneeze. If you want to stop a sneeze altogether, take a big, deep breath whenever you have the urge, which should stop the reflex. Just be sure you don't plug your nose while you sneeze, since this can be dangerous. To learn how to use your tongue to stop a sneeze, read on!

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