The 7 Best Anti-Snoring Devices of 2021

What to Look for in an Anti-Snoring Device

Product Type

Nose strips: Out of the types of anti-snoring products, slapping a nasal strip over your nose may seem like the easiest fix. All you have to do is stick it on and let it go to work as you sleep. However, this may only be helpful for people who are experiencing snoring as a result of a blockage of nasal passages. According to Alan R. Schwartz, M.D. adjunct professor at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine Professor, and professor at Johns Hopkins University, a “breathe-right” strip may not be helpful for everyone. “They may offer a partial solution, but remember that snoring is due to collapse of tissues in your throat rather than at your nostrils. So the strips might only work for people with tight nostrils,” he says. 

Mouthpiece: An anti-snoring mouthpiece may be one of the most annoying ways to correct sleeping (any sort of mouthpiece is typically uncomfortable), but Bernadette Judge (Nurse B), RN, operations manager of San Diego's Nupeutics Health, says these are one of the most popular over-the-counter ways to fix snoring. “Snoring mouthpieces were designed to help stop snoring by moving the lower jaw forward. Moving the jaw widens the air space allowing you to maintain an open airway, reducing vibration of the tissues in your throat,” she says. However, she points out that “studies are inconclusive whether or not they work.”

Pillows: According to Judge, pillows may be helpful if you’re naturally someone who sleeps on their back and you’re looking for help to sleep on your side. Sleeping on your side is the best position to sleep in if you snore. In fact sleeping “positional therapy” is a great way to start treating snoring,” she notes. “By sleeping on your side, you will alleviate the inflamed compressed airways allowing them to open up, which reduces snoring.”

Potential Warnings

The warnings with each of these different anti-snoring tools are minimal, especially with a pillow, breathe right strips, or mouth guard. The mouth guards are large enough that choking would be impossible, and at most you may experience slight skin irritation from sticking a strip on your nose throughout the night.

It’s important to recognize when you should see a doctor about snoring and when you should discontinue use of over-the-counter products if they are not helping to alleviate snoring over a period of time (one to two weeks). “Snoring can become a problem if you experience breathing pauses during sleep, gasping or choking at night, chest pain at night, insomnia, sleepiness during the day, brain fog and waking up with a headache,” says Judge. “These are all signs of obstructive sleep apnea and you should be evaluated by your physician.”

Waste/Reusability

Some anti-snoring treatments are a one and done product, like the pillows and chin strap. These are reusable and will last for years when taken care of properly. Other solutions, like nasal strips, are a one-time use disposable treatment, like a bandaid. They may work well, but keep in mind the cost and waste add up over time.

Why Trust Verywell Health?

As a seasoned health writer, Jennifer Nied understands how vital quality product recommendations are for treating symptoms safely and effectively at home. For over 10 years, she has reviewed products, interviewed experts, scrutinized ingredients, and pored over research studies and claims, to help readers like you understand what works for your specific conditions. Every product in this piece was selected taking into account recommendations from doctors, published research, and real customer reviews.

Additional reporting to this story by Brittany Leitner 

As a health writer with over eight years of experience, Brittany Leitner understands how important access to information is when it comes to making educated health decisions. She has interviewed dozens of medical experts, tested out hundreds of products, and aims to provide quality recommendations that won't break the bank.