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If you’ve had complaints about your snoring, you might have started looking for answers on how to stop snoring while sleeping and come across a product called anti-snore pillows. So how do anti-snoring pillows work and are they even worth purchasing? Well, we’ll dig a little deeper into the technology and science behind these pillows and let you know whether they will work for you, as well as the best alternatives for pillows for snorers.
What are anti-snore pillows?
Anti-snore pillows are specifically designed to adjust your position while you’re sleeping. While everyone has different ways that they can sleep comfortably, you can actually find the best sleeping positions for breathing problems to help you determine whether you’re sleeping position could be making your snoring worse.
The anti-snore pillows have an ergonomically shaped foam core and a hollow-fibre filling which combine to promote a better position for your airways to stay open and clear. Another common feature of anti-snore pillows is that they’re made from anti-allergenic materials because allergies can also be a top reason why snoring gets particularly bad at nighttime.
How do anti-snore pillows work?
The shape of anti-snore pillows is specifically designed to get you into a good sleeping position. As we mentioned above, and we also explain in our guide on the most common sleep disorders explained, there are lots of different issues that can crop up when we’re sleeping that can be helped by the anti-snore pillows:
- Help you maintain a more upright sleeping position – The wedge-shape of the pillow enables you to continue sleeping on your back if this is where you sleep most comfortably, but it doesn’t push your head forward and cut off part of your airways, which makes snoring much more significant.
- Encourage side sleeping – Not only can you continue to sleep on your back if you want to, but these anti-snore pillows are also designed to feel most comfortable when you sleep on your side, which we know from previous research will reduce snoring, especially on your left side.
- Detect snoring and move position (smart pillows) – Some anti-snore pillows can identify snoring and vibrate to alert you via a snore alarm, while others will move regularly to stimulate the airways, essentially disturbing you to stop your snoring – these types of pillows do tend to be very expensive!
Do anti-snore pillows work?
So, we know what anti-snore pillows are, and how they’re designed to work, but will they actually work for you? Unfortunately, this is a bit of a trial and error for you and your partner to see if an anti-snore pillow will help to adjust your position enough that your snoring eases.
However, as we mention in our guide on sleeping positions, there is scientifically backed evidence for which sleeping positions can help reduce your snoring and breathing problems, and anti-snore pillows are designed to get you into those positions and stay there. You should consider changing your sleeping position before you commit to buying an anti-snore pillow to see what works best for you.
What are the best pillows for snorers?
Aside from anti-snore pillows, what other options are out there for people who snore? Well, we would recommend:
- Memory foam pillows - Memory foam moulds to the shape of your neck and back, allowing for optimum support while you sleep and helping with your temperature regulation too. This helps to keep your airways open and clear, and the higher profile you get with a memory foam pillow helps with your spinal alignment.
- Anti-allergy pillows – Hypoallergenic pillows are designed to protect against bacteria and dust mites, making them the perfect item for allergy sufferers - or anyone looking for a healthy night's sleep. Reducing the amount of allergens in your environment will help reduce breathing problems for people with asthma or allergies, thus reducing snoring.
- Hollowfibre pillows – Hollowfibre is made from fine, hollow strands of polyester. The hollow centre traps air and helps to provide insulation and warmth where needed. It’s hypoallergenic, lightweight, warm, machine washable and breathable due to the air spaces between the fibres.
What is the best mattress type for snorers?
Not only can your pillow help with snoring problems, but the type of mattress you use can help too:
- Memory foam mattress – Memory foam isn’t just amazing for your pillow, but it’s also a fantastic material for snorers to sleep on top of. The adaptive and supportive material will help you to maintain your sleeping position more comfortably, which is helpful when you sleep in a position that alleviates your snoring.
- Hybrid mattress – The combination of memory foam and pocketed springs in a hybrid mattress makes it ideal for every type of sleeper, especially if you want to maximise the support on your back and neck to help your airways.
- Medium to medium-firm mattresses – Mattresses that have a firmness of medium to firm more effectively absorb movement and provide more support than softer mattresses.
Our Snooze News advice section has even more tips and tricks for getting a good night's sleep. For help choosing a new mattress, you can read our Mattress Buying Guide or use our MattressFinder quiz.
