There is nothing more frustrating than drifting off to sleep only to be woken up 45 minutes later by the rumbling growl of a snoring partner. Not only does the sound of a snoring partner interrupt your sleep, but snoring is also disruptive to the general health of your partner.
Snoring may cause ongoing throat or sinus issues, emotional irritation, and fatigue, the latter to both partners. Thankfully, medical science is on the case and there has been a recent spate of anti-snoring technological advances to help you get a much-needed night of sleep.
Nasal Dilators have become the next thing in snoring prevention. These small disposable dilators do exactly that; stent and dilate the nostrils to allow for clearer breathing during sleep. Sleepers who know their snoring is brought on by nighttime nasal congestion, sinus issues and medical conditions such as a deviated septum respond well to nasal dilators. Other contributors to snoring, such as soft palate vibration, may not respond as well to snoring aids such as dilators.
Not all dilators are the same however and not all are made to the same exacting standards as the top dilators currently available. The following nasal dilators represent the top three in regard to value for money, comfort, and effectiveness.
Mute Snoring
The signature ‘U’ shaped Mute Snoring dilator has undergone extensive testing and results indicate significant benefits for snorers. Over 75% of surveyed respondents reported less snoring, less severe snoring and better overall sleep quality.
The Mute Snoring dilator comes in different sizes and it is important to select the correct size to ensure a good fit and to avoid the dilator slipping out at night. The ribbed paddles of the Mute Snoring dilator set it apart from its competitors by cushioning the nostril comfortably and lessening the chance of it moving out of place during the night.
Like all nasal dilators, for optimal results, it is recommended your Mute Snoring dilator is replaced after a given period for hygiene reasons and to ensure the shape of the dilator hasn’t altered through wear. Mute Snoring dilators are higher priced than the competition, however, they have a robust clinical trial to back up their effectiveness.
SleepRight’s Intra-Nasal Breathing Aid
SleepRight’s Intra-Nasal Breathing Aid’s flesh colored dilator looks quite different to most dilators and flexes so it's one size is suitable for all nose types. The SleepRight Breathing Aid was the inevitable next step for the company who have had a long and successful history of nasal strips to aid in nasal breathing during the night.
The Intra-Nasal Breathing Aid inserts into the nose and gently opens the nasal passages to provide freedom from nasal congestion and clear airways. Like the Mute Snoring dilator, the SleepRight Intra-Nasal Breathing Aid is recommended to be disposed of after a period. Packs of three can be purchased at a reasonable price on the internet or over-the-counter.
Although there have been limited clinical trials regarding the effectiveness of the SleepRight Breathing Aid initial reviews by users of the product look positive and promising.
SnoreCare Nose Vents
At first glance, the SnoreCare Nose Vents appear similar to most nasal dilators on the market, however, SnoreCare’s ribbed, hollow tunnels are as unique to the dilator market as SleepRight’s Intra-Nasal Breathing Aid. Snore Care’s Nose Vents are made of a medical grade silicon for easy insertion and a comfortable fit while remaining discreetly tucked inside the nostrils.
The claims by SnoreCare that their Nose Vents can reduce snoring by not only opening the nasal passage but also by limiting the vibration of the soft palate are what make these dilators truly interesting. These claims suggest their dilator system takes a two-pronged attack on snoring, indicating a better result of eliminating snoring and fewer interruptions to your all-important sleep stages.
Available in four sizes, the SnoreCare Nose Vents require correct sizing to feel the benefits of the product, however, their set of four Nose Vents dilators and free carry case can be purchased for a very reasonable price online.
It is important to understand the cause of your (or your partner’s) snoring to determine if it is due mostly to nasal congestion in which case a dilator may work wonders, or whether there is soft palate vibration involved.
Although we would do nearly anything for a peaceful night of quality sleep, do your research before buying any anti-snoring product. A product that is found in many CVS pharmacies across the United States is Theravent. Although not a nasal dilator, it has been shown to reduce snoring for some users that snore through their nose because it encourages mouth breathing instead.
I’ve been snoring for years and have tried a lot of anti-snoring devices, including nasal dilators. Nasal dilators are small inserts made of a rubber-like material that you insert into your nose before going to sleep.
They open up your nasal pathways, which prevent you from snoring. Nasal dilators are different from snore guards that go in the mouth, such as the zQuiet, as they are inserted into the nose. They can be worn in tandem with a snoring mouthpiece.
Depending on your physiology, nasal dilators can be an effective way to treat your snoring.
I tested the Rhinomed MUTE Nasal dilator and found it works reasonably for snoring and especially nasal snoring.
The Product
The Rhinomed MUTE Nasal Device is an advanced nasal dilator that is available in three sizes. It is designed so each size can be further adjusted with micro-adjustments, making it a one-of-a-kind custom fit.
I was excited to test out the MUTE, as its maker, Rhinomed, also makes breathing devices for high-performance sports professionals. My hope was that if the pros like this product maker, maybe I would too.
How the MUTE Works
Mute gently stents and dilates the nasal airways allowing snorers to breathe more easily through their nose and keep their mouth closed during sleep. By opening up the nasal passages, the MUTE reduces the vibrations in the airways that can cause disruptive snoring. The unique shape of the MUTE allows it to sit towards the back of the nasal passages, creating a wider opening in the back of the nasal cavity than most nasal dilators.
My Experience
Based on the descriptions of the sizes, I ordered the large size of the MUTE. I was impressed when I opened the box. The MUTE comes in a nice package with a very professional design and presentation. First impressions are important, and so far, the MUTE was doing well.
Despite my research, I wasn’t positive I had chosen the correct size. It was only later that I saw that Rhinomed sells a trial pack which has multiple sizes in it for new users. The trial pack allows new users to determine which size works best for them. That makes sense and I probably would have purchased the trial pack had I realized it was available.
I bought mine from the official MUTE site, but discovered the MUTE is also available at Walgreens, so I could have picked it up there.
The First Night
Inserting the MUTE into my nose was not as straightforward as I would have hoped. The MUTE comes with detailed instructions and you really do need to read them to understand how to put it in. After reading the instructions, I was able to insert the MUTE into my nose without looking in the mirror. Because the device was inside my nose, it was hard to tell if the MUTE was inserted like the picture. I did not notice any discomfort until I accidentally pushed the device too far into my nose.
I like to use the SnoreLab app when I’m testing out new anti-snoring devices. The SnoreLab app records your snoring through the night and measures your snoring duration and intensity. I fired up the app prior to going to bed. I slept well- I really didn’t notice the MUTE was in place. I fell into a deep sleep almost immediately that night.
When I woke up the first morning, the first thing I did was check the SnoreLab app. I noticed that 28% of the night was spent snoring – slightly higher than my long-term average.
However, I was surprised when looking at my Snore Score, which is the app’s way of measuring snoring intensity. My Snore Score had dropped all the way to 12. Now normally, when I have a night of deep sleep, my Snore Score can get as high as 60.
So, although I snored the same amount of time, the overall volume of snoring was much lower than usual. I listened to the recording and the snoring was hardly noticeable.
Video of How the MUTE Dilator Works
Future Nights
I tried the MUTE for the second night and noticed on waking that my Snore Score jumped to 33 from 12. Fortunately, the SnoreLab app had picked up the sounds from the heavy rains we had. The rain was showing up as snoring, which explains the jump in the Snore Score.
This is one reason I like to use the app!
I tried the MUTE again on different nights and had good results. I was able to increase the size of the device with the handy straps that are built into the dilator. A lot of factors that a nose dilator can’t control were at play for me and caused variation in results. For example, external factors such as deeper sleep, using sleeping pill, and eating various foods prior to bed that cause GERD caused types of snoring that the MUTE could not fix completely.
Overall the MUTE is a quality product that reduces snoring volume. It is the most professional Nasal Dilator we have reviewed due to the precise sizing ability. Many nasal dilators we've tried show no results, but the MUTE was successful in our tests.
Pros
Cons
Nasal dilators like the MUTE are straightforward and efficient tools at reducing your nasal snoring. I found the MUTE to be effective at reducing the volume of my snoring, which was a big bonus. It did not, however, reduce the actual amount of snoring as much as I would have liked. The MUTE is a relatively inexpensive way of testing out a nasal dilator and may be an effective tool for you if you are a mild to moderate snorer.
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