Nasal Dilators – What Are They?
Nasal dilators have become a solid and diverse option in the anti-snoring product world. Though many of them work the same way, there are a lot of different brands and models to choose from – and all of them are just a little bit different.
What are they?
Nasal dilators are basically small plastic rings that you insert into the nasal passages. Sometimes they’re designed to be a bit more ‘rigid’, and sometimes they’re designed to be soft and pliable. Two of these small rings are usually joined together with a small bit of material, so that they can be kept as one unit when being used or stored.
Some of them also come in different sizes for different sized noses. They all tend to look pretty similar, but don’t let that fool you! Some nasal dilators are very well designed, while some certainly leave a bit to be desired. It may take a bit of trial and error to find the exact type that works for you – so a bit of patience and a willingness to try more than one type might be required to find the right version of this product for you.
How do they work?
Nasal dilators are pretty simple in function. They help to keep the nasal passages held outward and expanded – which, in theory, allows more air to pass through and helps with nasal breathing. They promote nasal breathing, and are said to work very well for people who tend to have problems getting enough breathing air through the nose alone.
If nasal snoring is present, then nasal dilators can help to hold the sides of the nose open – thereby preventing vibration and cutting down on the amount of snoring experienced.
What are the benefits?
Aside from helping to reduce snoring, nasal dilators are beneficial in the sense that they’re very simple and cosmetically non-invasive. Tiny dilators tend not to stick out a lot when you’re wearing them – which might make you feel a bit ‘less ridiculous-looking’ in comparison to other stop-snoring methods. They’re also inexpensive, and don’t really need to be replaced as often as some other types of anti-snoring products.
Another good thing about them is that they promote nasal breathing – which is said to be extremely healthy.
What are the downsides?
The main downside to nasal dilators is that they don’t work for everyone. In many cases, snoring is caused by vibrations of the tissue in the soft palate and throat – and unfortunately, nasal dilators cannot always impact this problem.
Yes, promoting nasal breathing can help sometimes, and dilators certainly help in cases where snoring do to the size/state of the nasal passages or congestion is a problem – but really, in the grand scheme of things, nasal dilators probably aren’t going to be able to affect every case of snoring.
People also sometime complain that nasal dilators are a bit painful after a while, especially the models that tend to be made of harder materials.
Should you use nasal dilators?
If you find yourself snoring and believe the cause to be in the nasal passages, then nasal dilators might be a fantastic product to start out with. Granted, they might not help everyone – but they do help a lot of people, and you’ll most likely find that they tend to do quite well in cases where snoring is being caused by collapsed nasal passages or allergies/congestion.
When shouldn’t you use nasal dilators?
Nasal dilators probably shouldn’t be your first choice if you’re experiencing soft-palate vibration snoring. This type of snoring may be difficult for nasal dilators to overcome. You should also probably try a different method if you’re prone to suffering from obstructive sleep apnea.
In Conclusion
Nasal dilators are simple, effective, and non-invasive. If you’re interested in an inexpensive method that could potentially really help you to reduce or eliminate your nasal snoring problems altogether, then this may certainly be a route to try.