Best Nasal Strips For Snoring (Reviews And Buyer’s Guide 2023)

Nasal strips have been used to alleviate stuffy noses caused by colds and allergies for quite a while, but did you know they’re also used to combat snoring? That’s because snoring is often a byproduct of nasal congestion. In this article, you’ll discover how these simple devices can help you and your partner get a better night’s sleep and provide you with an overview of the best nasal strips for snoring selling today.

What Are Nasal Strips for Snoring?

When you go to sleep, your tongue and throat muscles relax, so much so that it can sometimes block your airway partially. While you continue to breathe, air passes through this obstructed airway, causing vibration across your uvula and soft palette. This vibration generates the typical snoring sound.

Your airway gets restricted even more when dealing with nasal congestion, leading to louder, more disruptive snoring. Nasal strips are engineered to solve this issue.

Nasal strips are made from spring-like, flexible bands positioned above the flare of each nostril. The bottom of the strip is undercoated with an adhesive that allows the device to stay securely positioned on the nose overnight. The band will naturally attempt to straighten to its original shape — a tension that lifts the sides of the nose (not to be confused with internal nasal dilators, which also widen nostrils). Once the nasal passages open, snoring of this type ceases (source).

Nasal strips are drug-free and non-prescription-based and can be used by anyone aged five years and up.

How to Choose Nasal Strips for Snoring

To work properly, each nasal strip must maintain its rigidity and stay glued to your nose all night. Thus, bands should have a straight, yet flexible, shape, with a strong adhesive. (Note: nasal strip adhesives often leave a gooey residue after removal, which may need some scrubbing to get off completely). Strips should also be strong and malleable to pull the nasal passages wide open and maintain that position.

Size is another important consideration. Nasal strips aren’t always one size fits all, so make sure to choose a nasal strip that best fits the size of your nose to gain maximum benefit (most manufacturers offer a variety of sizes). Teens and children should look for small strips, while most adults require the regular or large variations.

Another issue to think about is skin sensitivity. If you have dry or sensitive skin, you may experience a bad reaction to the type of chemicals often used in adhesives. Thus, before using a nasal strip on your nose, test it out on a non-visible area of your body first to gauge your response. Fortunately, some companies also sell nasal strips made with fragile skin in mind.

Last, and most important, make sure that sleep apnea or other serious disorders aren’t behind your snoring problem, conditions which nasal strips won’t address. If you’re unsure, ask your physician about undergoing a sleep study before moving forward.

How to Use Nasal Strips for Snoring

If your snoring issue is nasal in nature (and not due to a more serious condition like sleep apnea), AND your nose is on the narrow side, nasal strips will probably work well for you. Opening your airways with nasal strips will reduce the noise caused by nasal snoring since air will no longer press through the narrow gaps of your airway.

For maximum benefit, proper placement on your nose is key. Depending on the shape of your nose, this could mean positioning the strip along the lower or middle part. Avoid placing the strip too high since it will be too far from the nostrils to work properly.

Once snoring stops, you and your partner will sleep much more peacefully, leading to better mental clarity during the day, and perhaps a better relationship!

Reviews of the Best Nasal Strips for Snoring

Breathe Right Extra Clear Nasal Strips

Breathe Right Extra Clear Nasal Strips do a good job at keeping your nostrils open, allowing you to breathe easier at night. While only one size, these nasal strips fit most noses.

The adhesive is particularly strong, so much so that taking it off can be somewhat of a challenge and even leave your skin raw in extreme cases, especially after repeated use. But those with naturally oily skin may have the opposite problem, forcing you to apply a new strip in the middle of the night (the strip isn’t strong enough for reapplication).

The Breathe Right brand has a stellar reputation and despite a few flaws, this product is still a cut above the rest.

Caution: Avoid this nasal strip if you’re allergic to rubber latex.

PROS

  • Works effectively
  • Lifts nasal passages better than most other models
  • Strong adhesive lasts through the night

CONS

  • Contains natural rubber latex, a skin irritant to those with allergies
  • Adhesive can be painful to remove

Stuffy Nose Strips

An innovative new approach to combatting nasal congestion and snoring, Stuffy Nose strips go on your cheeks instead of your nose. This is an interesting solution since noses often become irritated and sore from frequent nose-blowing.

That said, these strips can take a while to learn how to apply properly, by which time you may go through several strips to find the “sweet spot.” They’re also longer than other nasal strips and thus more prone to getting tangled and sticking to themselves, which can be frustrating.

But these strips do have the advantage of staying on all night and are easier to pull off in the morning without worrying about skin irritations or leaving behind much adhesive. And unlike traditional nasal strips, Stuffy Nose strips are less likely to fall off since they’re applied directly to your cheek.

PROS

  • Works effectively
  • Innovative approach to traditional nose strips (placed on cheeks, not nose)
  • Easy to remove and doesn’t leave behind adhesive

CONS

  • Can get tangled easily
  • May not work with wrinkled skin

MQ Better Breath Nasal Strips

MQ Better Breath Nasal Strips are like Breathe Right Extra Clear Nasal Strips but cheaper and not as high quality.

The adhesive of this strip isn’t particularly strong but may be enough to last through the night if your skin isn’t too oily. Another disadvantage is the actual spring device, which doesn’t spread open nostrils as well as other brands.

The length of this strip is shorter than most competitors and thus might not work as well for those with larger-sized noses.

On the plus side, MQ strips are latex-free, which helps those with allergies.

PROS

  • Fair value for budget
  • Latex-free, thus favorable for people with allergies

CONS

  • Not a good option for people with larger-sized noses
  • Adhesive can be painful to remove

Sequoia Health Breathe-Ability Nasal Strips

The Sequoia Breathability Nasal Strips come in two sizes: small/medium and large to fit most people’s noses.

While thicker than most other nasal strips, the Sequoia only has one flexible strip of plastic per strip instead of the usual two or three, making its structure less sturdy. Moreover, some people have difficulty keeping the strip on through the night. On the flipside, these strips aren’t as painful to take off as some other brands.

Sequoia strips are latex-free and thus a good choice for allergy sufferers.

PROS

  • Fair value for budget
  • Latex-free, thus favorable for people with allergies

CONS

  • Only one elastic strip per strip
  • Adhesive might not last all night

MEDca Adult Tan Nasal Strips

The MEDca Adult Tan Nasal Strips are made from a reusable, latex-free, soft fabric with rounded ends that don’t dig into the skin, which is typical of pointed edges. This feature makes these strips more comfortable than other brands and easier to take off afterward.

That said, the lack of a stiffening plastic strip to help widen the nostrils makes them less effective than competitors, not to mention a less than stellar adhesive. Still, these strips may be worth a try especially if you don’t respond well to traditional nasal strips.

PROS

  • Fair value for budget
  • Latex-free, thus favorable for people with allergies
  • Easy to remove and doesn’t leave behind adhesive

CONS

  • Doesn’t keep nostrils open as well as other brands
  • Adhesive might not last all night

Conclusion

While all the nasal strips reviewed above have merit, our top choice goes to the Breathe Right Extra Clear Nasal Strips​ for two main reasons:

  • Among the most powerful spring-induced lifts to widen nostrils for easier breathing and thus less snoring
  • Among the strongest adhesives, making it more likely to stay on overnight

The Breathe Right brand has become the gold-standard for nasal strips and this product is no exception.

Now Over to You!

What are your thoughts about using nasal strips for snoring? Leave your comments below!

Sleepy Bliss
Sleepy Bliss

Sleepy Bliss seeks to provide in-depth, objective, free information and resources to improve readers' sleep and, ultimately, well-being and overall health. From tips and guides for a better rest, to reviews of the latest sleep-related aids and accessories, you'll find it all here.

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