Breathe Right Nasal Strips are designed to help clear the airways, making it easier to breathe through your nose at night. The strips are promoted mostly for nasal congestion relief, especially as the result of a cold or allergies.
However, the strips can also be a way to reduce snoring (for people who breathe through their nose). We’re taking a look at the snoring angle in this review.
Snoring is a very common problem. It can sometimes be an indication of something more serious (like sleep apnea), but often snoring occurs when there are no serious health conditions.
While complaints about snoring a common, people often assume that there is nothing that can be done. Yet, in many cases, snoring can be reduced, if not eliminated altogether. Attempting to do so is important, as snoring can decrease sleep quality for the snorer as well as their partner.
In Brief
Product Name: Breathe Right Nasal Strips
Product Type: Snoring aid
Rating: 4/5
Useful For: Increasing airflow through the nose, which can improve breathing and reduce snoring.
Personal Perspectives: My personal experiences with the nasal strips have been fantastic. The main limitation is that the stickiness makes them difficult to remove and may damage your skin.
The strips also won’t be helpful for everyone. They are best suited to people who snore through their nose – not through their mouth.
Our Full Breathe Right Nasal Strips Review
- What Are Breathe Right Nasal Strips
- How Do They Work?
- Types of Breathe Right Nasal Strips
- Breathe Right Nasal Strips Reviews
- Our Thoughts About Breathe Right Nasal Strips
What Are Breathe Right Nasal Strips?
Nasal strips are so simple that they can seem a little absurd. You’re simply using a relatively small strip band that can feel a little like a sticking plaster.
The difference is that nasal strips have a degree of rigidity as well. Breathe Right claims that they are flexible and spring-like – which is a pretty good description really.
The strips stick to your nose using 3M Adhesive (which means they often stay in place well). The combination of flexibility and rigidity means that they help to gently open your nose, providing more air flow.
Doing so may reduce snoring and promote a better night’s sleep.
However, the effectiveness of the strips does depend on how you breathe when you sleep to begin with. If you breathe through your mouth – using strips on their own won’t make much of a difference.
How Do They Work?
The video below offers a brief introduction to the nasal strips, along with how they work and how to use them.
My Personal Experience with the Strips
I initially learned about nasal strips when researching a piece on snoring. As you are no doubt aware, snoring can be incredibly frustrating – to the point that it places strain on a relationship.
But, as I learned, there are many ways to decrease snoring. Nasal strips are one such approach.
I used nasal strips as my first attempt to decrease my snoring, largely because they were inexpensive and simple. Plus, my partner had already told me that I snore exclusively through my nose – so, nasal strips made sense.
I started out with the clear strips. These are designed for sensitive skin – but I simply chose them because selection in my local store was limited.
I tried the Original strips later on, which were also a larger size. The larger size is better for my nose, but the Original strips are even more sticky. Getting them off can be frustrating and a little painful.
The strip was pretty easy to put on and, surprisingly, I noticed the difference right away. The strip did open up my nose a little. It seemed like I was getting more air each time I inhaled. That’s pretty impressive, given my nose wasn’t even congested at the time.
But, by far, the best outcome was that my snoring decreased. I still snore apparently, but it is much lighter. My partner is able to sleep through the night most of the time now, which is a vast improvement.
Do Breathe Right Nasal Strips Stop Snoring?
They did for me, but other people might have a different experience.
Honestly, it depends on what is causing your snoring. If you breathe through your mouth, you’ll first need to make sure your mouth stays closed at night (there are products for this too).
They’re also not effective all the time. There are some nights where I snore even when I use the strips – normally if I’m very tired.
Do Breathe Right Nasal Strips Improve Sleep?
Again, this depends on your situation. If you breathe mostly through your nose, then the strips can make a huge difference.
They can also be very relevant if you have a congested nose (such as from a cold). While the strips seem simple, they can have a significant impact on breathing and sleep quality.
Do The Strips Help With Sleep Apnea?
No! Sleep apnea is a serious condition where people literally stop breathing during their sleep. Getting more air through your nostrils won’t have any impact on sleep apnea patterns.
Can Breathe Right Strips Damage Your Nose?
When used well, Breathe Right strips shouldn’t damage your nose. That said, I found that they did hurt the skin – enough that I tried to avoid using them too many nights in a row.
Types of Breathe Right Nasal Strips
Breathe Right has a selection of strip types to choose from. There are also different box sizes. In general, the larger boxes tend to work out at a lower price per strip.
The boxes below are just some examples of the options.
I personally recommend starting off with the sensitive skin strips, as even these can be harsh and take some time to get used to. It seems like most people are fine with the small to medium sizes (although I found that the larger ones were more effective for me).
Breathe Right Nasal Strips Reviews
There are some variations depending on the specific product in question, but most reviews for the strips tend to be positive. You can see this in the previous image too, where review averages tend to be four stars or above.
The most commonly highlighted issue was one I noticed myself, where the adhesive isn’t kind to the skin.
However, the issue doesn’t seem to be universal. Some people find the strips easy to get off. Others suggest that they need warm water to remove the strips, but that needing to do so isn’t really an issue.
The variations in reviews suggest that you’ll need to try out the strips for yourself.
Still, it’s nice to see that most of the complaints focus on one aspect of the product working too well, rather than the product not living up to its claims.
My Thoughts About Breathe Right Nasal Strips
Breathe Right Nasal Strips are a good first choice for tackling snoring. They’re easy to use, fairly inexpensive and you’re not relying on machines or medication.
Personally, I’m in two minds about the strips.
They have been amazing, but I’m hoping to find something a little bit better. For me, the biggest problem is that the strips are quite hard to get off – to the point that they’re harsh on my skin.
I’m not comfortable with that outcome, especially if I end up wearing the strips every night for years. Now, I’m fairly young (in my 30s), so this isn’t a deal breaker, but older users and people with delicate skin may not want to use something so harsh night after night.
Pros
- The strips are easy to use.
- The strips can be put on quickly.
- There are multiple sizes and styles to choose between.
- The strips stick in place well.
Cons
- You need to use a new strip each night. This means buying a new box every month or so, which does get a bit pricey.
- The strips stick a little too well. They’re quite harsh on the skin.
- It feels wasteful to throw away a strip after each night.
- The stickiness is frustrating if you get the strip in the wrong place.
Alternatives to the Strips
I relied on Breathe Right Strips on and off for a few months after first trying them. While they did hurt my skin a little, it was the price that ultimately got to me.
I started experimenting with nasal dilators instead. These go inside your nose rather than on top.
I’m fond of this particular product, as you get 12 dilators in different sizes. This makes it easy to find the right fit. I’ll admit – the sensation of wearing the strips isn’t great. They’re uncomfortable at times and I need to take a break after a week or so. Still, they’re inexpensive and they work.
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