Snoring may be a problem for couples who sleep in the same bed or roommates who sleep in the same room.
There is a medical way that the NHS recommends to stop snoring. However, on top of that, you can also invest in an anti-snore pillow to prevent snoring faster.
Anti-snore pillows sound like one of those ‘magic’ products that, in theory, will be amazing but are met with doubts about its functionality.
In this guide, we’ll look at the science to explain how and why anti pillows work. We’ll also be looking at the best anti-snore pillows that you could get in the market.
The following subtopics will be talked about in this guide:
- Do anti-snore pillows work?
- How do anti-snore pillows work?
- What are the best anti-snore pillows in the market?
Do anti-snore pillows work?
While anti-snore pillows sound like one of those pseudo-science fads that companies market to have excellent benefits, a substantial amount of scientific studies back up this claim.
In fact, in a study conducted published in the journal of Behavioural Neurology, it has been found out that smart anti-snore pillows do, in fact, work.
It concluded that it is an effective positional therapy device for people who suffer from obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome, also known as snoring.
How do anti-snore pillows work?
It helps you sleep on your side.
Anti-snore pillows are designed to force you to sleep on your side. Generally, the typical design is to dip in the pillow where your other ear is supposed to go.
Now, it has been proven that sleeping position affects snoring. The NHS website explicitly recommends buying special sleep pillows that force you to sleep on your side.
In fact, according to the British Snoring and Sleep Apnoea Association, this is because people who sleep on their backs are more likely to snore.
The rationale behind that is that when you sleep on your back, gravity has more of an effect on your body, specifically on your upper airway, which causes you to snore.
On the other hand, when you sleep on your side, gravity has less of an impact on your airways, so you are less likely to snore.
It provides more support.
Antisnore pillows are also designed to provide more support to your head while you sleep. This is relevant because the improper posture of the head when sleeping may obstruct the upper airways, which will then cause snoring.
Typically, your airways are supposed to remain open enough while you sleep so that air passes appropriately.
However, when the muscles in your throat are not as relaxed, it creates stops in your breathing which is when you snore. That’s why getting a pillow that promotes explicitly better support will help you sleep better.
It helps you align your body when sleeping.
Another claim of anti-snore pillows is that it promotes a better body alignment for the head, neck, and spine while sleeping.
This follows the same logic as the previous point. If there is proper alignment for your body, your airways are less likely to be blocked or constricted.
Sleeping on your side while maintaining proper alignment will help your throat muscles to relax and let the airways pass incorrectly.
Read also: Best pillows in the UK review
What are the best anti-snore pillows in the market?
Silentnight Anti-Snore Pillow
This pillow has been tried and tested by the British Snoring and Sleep Apnoea Association. Their findings indicate that using this pillow reduced the frequency and volume of their subjects’ snoring by about 50 percent.
Moreover, the manufacturers had also conducted an independent study in which their testers concluded that they had a better sleep when they used the product regularly. It’s from Silentnight, a sleep brand that is well-trusted here in the UK.
It’s been ergonomically designed with an inner core that is S-shaped. This is meant to accommodate your head, provide enough neck support, and lessen the possibilities of you snoring.
It provides a medium amount of support, which is optimal for both back and side sleepers. On top of that, the filling is hollowfibre, which makes it highly comfortable. It is also hypoallergenic to cater to sensitive and need help with their snoring problem.
TAMPOR Orthopaedic Anti-Snore Support Pillow
This one is from TAMPOR and incorporates a wave design that aims to promote proper neck support. The head dips into the wave while the outward curve of the product correctly supports the neck.
On top of that, it is rectangular and made with memory foam. Memory foam is an excellent material for proper support and pressure relief.
This has been constructed with high-quality memory foam that isn’t too hard that you’ll feel like sleeping on a rock. It’s incredibly comfortable.
Because of the clever construction, this is best for side and back sleepers.
Aside from that, it is also OEKO-Tex, and EU Certipur certified, ensuring that it has no harmful chemicals in the actual product. This also means that it is hypoallergenic and resistant to dust mites.
Topmener Orthopaedic Anti-Snore Pillow
This is an excellent anti-snore pillow that has received lots of good feedback on many platforms, including Amazon. On the website, it has over 600+ ratings and an average of 4.2 stars.
The shape and design of this product are purposeful and functional. The construction on both ends is meant to support your head, cervical vertebrae, and arms.
This helps you maintain a proper back sleeping position and to get comfortable to prevent constricting your airways.
It is also made with premium quality low-rebound memory foam, which helps prevent any neck or shoulder pains.
The memory foam provides a firm but the comfortable level of support. Plus, the size of this pillow has been designed to accommodate all types of sleepers, regardless of their height or proportions.
It is also OEKO-Tex and CertiPur-US certified, which I especially appreciate as it’s an added feature that helps me rest assured that I am safe when I am sleeping.