Are There Any Anti Snoring Devices That Really Work?

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Are There Any Anti Snoring Devices That Really Work?

Thursday, June 25th, 2009 Subscribe To Our Feed

There are a bewildering number of anti snoring devices on the market today. The desire to stop snoring makes us an easy target for these gadgets, but how do we find out which work and which don’t without having to buy them all? This article will review the main snoring devices available and hopefully help you choose.

Snoring pillows

These pillows supposedly support the sleeper’s neck thus keeping the airways open and separate the soft palate from the throat. Some of them will force the user to sleep on his side which will stop many people from snoring. Other snoring pillows also contain magnets which are supposed to relieve pain. There is little concrete evidence to show that these pillows stop snoring although they may work for some people by encouraging side sleeping.

Nasal strips

These sticky strips force open the nasal passages allowing the snorer to breath through his nose instead of his mouth. This simple snoring device may indeed be helpful for snorers, but only if nasal congestion was the cause of snoring in the first place.

There are also devices to insert inside the nose to keep the nasal passages open. These also work to alleviate congestion, although they do tend to fall out frequently.

Throat spray

Throat sprays usually contain aromatherapy oils and help to lubricate and tone the soft tissue around the throat, supposedly stopping them from vibrating.

There is little evidence that throat sprays work but they may help to clear congestion.

Nasal sprays

These sprays are designed to decongest the nasal passages to enable the user to breath through his mouth. This they do quite effectively, but they are unsafe to use for the long term. If you use these sprays for more than a few days, they may cause dependency and possibly make the congestion worse.

Snoring pills

These mainly aims to reduce swelling and congestion in the nose and throat passages. Most snoring pills are based on natural ingredients, but others also contain anti histamines. Again these may be of value to those who snore due to congestion.

Snoring ring

Invented in Australia, the anti snore ring works on the principle of acupressure. It must be worn on the pinky finger of the left hand. The ring works by creating a calming effect which allows a deep sleep without snoring.

Some people swear by the snoring ring and claim it has stopped their snoring permanently. Others say it has had no effect whatsoever. The jury is still out on this one!

Throat exercises

Throat exercises have been around for a while and there is a solid body of evidence to their effectiveness. Throat exercises do demand a little bit of effort for them to work. However, those that persevere and do the exercises have reported a reduction and sometimes complete elimination of their snoring. They work by strengthening the jaw and throat muscles as well as the tongue, all of which serves to end vibration of the soft tissues.

To conclude it can be said that most anti snoring devices do not work for the majority of people. The only snoring aids I can recommend are the snoring exercises for those who do not wish to use a Cpap or resort to surgery.