Wearing earplugs helps protect the inner ears from loud sounds that can damage hearing. It should be safe to wear earplugs frequently—as long as they are clean and inserted properly, they aren’t causing earwax buildup or pain, and they aren’t used to avoid non-threatening everyday noise. To continue reading this article, you must log in . Source matters. Subscribe to HarvardHealth Online+ FREE for 30 days for unlimited access to the site – where all content is reviewed by an HMS physician or