Overview of Popular Snoring Remedies

What Causes Your Snoring?

Putting tape or clips on or in the nose does nothing to stop open-mouth snoring - which is, according to leading sleep specialists, the #1 cause of most chronic, loud, habitual non-apnea snoring in adults like you.  Taping the mouth closed with adhesive chin strips can work for some snorers, but it's useless for men with facial hair or beards (about 21% of the adult male population of the U.S., according to Psychology Today), or many people with sensitive skin.  It's also much more expensive  over the course of a year than the SnorEnder.

What about anti-snore sprays?

A leading expert on snoring, and a consultant to the leading Web portal for healthcare information states on the site that he does not recommend snore sprays.  Neither does Consumer Reports.

PLEASE READ - FTC Concern over "anti-snoring claims"

 

Recently, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and responsible companies have become concerned that some anti-snoring remedies may not be telling YOU, the customer, enough about SLEEP APNEA. 

 

There are NO FDA-approved over-the-counter or self-help snoring products that offer effective treatment or relief for Sleep Apnea, a serious and potentially fatal condition - including the SnorEnder. 

 

More information on this serious healthcare concern may be found here:

FTC:  http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/alerts/snorealrt.htm

 

Sleep Apnea Info:   http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/sleepapnea.html

 

American Sleep Apnea Association:  www.sleepapnea.org

What Causes Snoring?

Tissue vibration.  Nothing more.

As you start to doze off and move from a shallow sleep to deep slumber, the muscles in the roof of your mouth (soft palate), tongue and throat relax. Contrary to popular belief, these muscles usually don't get significantly "longer" or become "weaker" as we age - except for those who may have gained and then lost substantial weight, where the muscles may lose "tone." 

This fact implies that some anti-snoring devices and exercise programs that may promise to end snoring by "tightening" or "training" oral muscles might be promising more than they can reasonably deliver.  The process of snoring more as we age is a natural occurrence, you can't "retrain" these muscles in the throat and mouth to tighten up, as you would those 6-pack abs you're still working on. That requires surgery. 

If the tissues in your throat and soft palate relax enough, they vibrate and may partially obstruct your airway.  The more narrowed your airway, the more forceful the airflow in and out through the mouth becomes. Tissue vibration increases, and your snoring grows deeper, louder, and more annoying to those around you.

For many sleepers, having a low, thick soft palate or enlarged tonsils or adenoids, tissues in the back of your throat, increases the snoring problem.  This thickened soft palate can narrow your airway. Sometimes, an elongated uvula (the triangular piece of tissue that hangs down from the soft palate) can also obstruct airflow and increases vibration.

Being overweight or obese, having a neck size 17 inches or larger, and a maintaining a sedentary lifestyle may also contribute to narrowing of your throat tissues and increased snoring. Exercise, weight-loss and a healthy lifestyle may help reduce snoring.  But, since as many as 60% of us are overweight, according to the US Government, wearing the SnorEnder is probably a lot easier way to reduce or stop your non-apnea snoring than losing 30-100 pounds of extra weight for most people over 40.

Snoring can also be caused by consuming too much alcohol before bedtime. Alcohol acts like a sedative, relaxing throat muscles. Chronic nasal congestion and post-nasal drip or a deviated nasal septum crooked partition between your nostrils may also cause snoring. Snoring may be an occasional problem that appears during periods of stress, with colds or the flu, or it may be an every-night frustration.

The Quest for Sleep

Did you know that the U.S. Patent Office has issued more than 790 patents for snoring remedies since it was established by Congress in 1796?  More than 130 patents have been issued for acupuncture and acupressure.  And about 200 patents exist for magnetic therapy methods and devices.

Some 300 anti-snoring devices have been developed and marketed over the years, including one for a "hard rubber ball sewn into the back of a nightshirt... issued in 1908.  And still, millions of people snore nightly in homes across the country.

The quest for a good night's sleep has occupied some of the most inventive (and possibly sleep-deprived) minds of each generation.  From nasal tape, chin "pillows" and bulky restrictive headbands, masks, surgery and sprays to bed risers, herbal "drugs" and uncomfortable mouthguards, and even "mouth plugs" with holes drilled through the middle, anti-snoring solutions can be readily found on the Web, at your local pharmacy and through alternative healthcare stores everywhere.

We've compiled this table to help you better understand the range of options, and their cost (per month & year).  We have also provided more information on some products from published expert sources when we feel it might be useful.  By no means are these the only, or even the "best" anti-snoring solutions. They are, however, among the more popular ones that we have personally tried.

If you snore, you may have Obstructive Sleep Apnea.  ONLY your healthcare professional can diagnose this potentially life-threatening sleep disorder.

What WORKS, What Doesn't, And Why

We do want you to know that these products are good, from reputable sources, and if used properly, they may help reduce your snoring.  Of course, if anything we've tried over the past 5+ years had worked for us, we would never have invested the time, effort and money to develop the SnorEnder.

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We have been informed by lawyers representing a few of the more popular anti-snoring products that we cannot use their name brands or link to web sites of these popular anti-snoring remedies.  Therefore, we must ask that you determine the usefulness and relative cost of the product(s) you currently use.  Of course that way, you will KNOW what makes sense for you.

Anti-Snoring Product	Avg. Retail Price (3/31/2005)	Est. Cost per Month & Year	Remarks & Clinical Findings
popular nasal strip               popular chin strip	$5.49 per box of 12 strips $13.99 per box of 30 strips       about the same cost	$13.73m / $164.70y $13.99m / $167.88y	-The FDA notes that strips may be useful in reducing snoring. We had very mixed results in more than 100 trials over the past 2 years, but they are worth trying.   FDA approved. Very good product. Useless for men with facial hair. These do seem to work better if there's no sinus congestion, and the chinstrips can help keep the mouth closed in many users.  Consumer Reports likes the concept, and we do think these may help reduce nasal snoring, and they seem to work better than some nose clips.   But, having tried them extensively, we prefer the SnorEnder. For a number of people who tried these and the SnorEnder in clinical trials, there was  some noticeable skin irritation from the chin-stip adhesive because of every-night use.
generic nasal strips	$3.99 per box of 12 strips	$9.98m /  $119.70y	-same as above
popular snore spray	$13.99 for 2oz bottle (2-3 sprays per night, at 1 ml each spray = 20 uses per bottle)	$20.99m / $251.82y	-We tried just about every leading spray and none worked for us as advertised - "your mileage may differ".    You really should see list of contents (1) below.
generic snore spray	$9.99 for 2oz bottle	$14.99m / $179.82y	-see list of contents (2)
popular snore spray	$12.99 for 2oz bottle	$19.49m / $233.82y	-see list of contents (3)
anti-snoring tablets	20 tablets for $5.99   FDA banned, but it's back...	NA	-FDA banned in 2004, contains ephedra (re-allowed in 2005.)  We actually tried this product before it was banned.  It didn't work at all. See list of ingredients (4)
anti-snoring pillow	$29.95		-Contoured pillow, some sleepers reported reduced snoring, but it was inconsistent.  Probably worth trying.   We've tried several anti-snoring pillows and coudn't find relief with any of them
anti-snoring device	$24.99		-Wrist alarm, Dick Tracy would love it, but we thought it was an "interesting" idea.
anti-snoring headband	$57.97 to $67.97   The price on this product seems to vary from the mid to high $50 range to about $70+.  Based on our experience, heavy snorers may want to replace this 2-3 times a year.  Estimated annual cost for 2: $119.90   The company also seems to have a a growing number of companion web sites for this product and a more complex headband:  "as seen on TV"- but it works essentially the same way.		-Headband.    Seems to make a claim on its web site that it is an "alternative to the CPAP machine" - that's not a statement that has been FDA-approved.   While the basic design has some promising features, it is very expensive (for what you get).  It does not have the advanced features of the SnorEnder, and lacks its adjustable velcro tabs (SnorEnder & Pro).    If you look carefully at the photos on one of their web sites, the wearers are both lying on their stomachs - few people snore loudly in that position.   -Made of lycra swim suit material, that seemed to lose much of its elasticity and mouth support" after about 4-5 months of nightly use.  The SnorEnder is made of a more expensive lycra material, and is double-ply for durability and consistent support.   -Doesn't have any advanced technology (acupressure, magnetic therapy), just a simple elastic headband -which may be all you need
chin support band	$39.00		-Chin support band.  A headband-like solution from Australia. Has many of the same wear and usability advantages and drawbacks as simple headbands. But some of our study participants liked it.
magnetic nose clip	$19.95		-Magnetic nose clip.  Hurt to wear it, was not that effective at reducing chronic snoring and several subjects reported unpleasant "sensitivity" inside their nasal passages the next morning.  Still, nose clips, including this one, may help some people.

nasal "expander" - a nose clip             Nasal device - fitted into nasal passages to "expand" the nose openings       Nasal "cones"

$19.95 for 60 day supply.  $119.70 per year           $189.00 for a set   You select the pair that fit the best       $19.95 for a set.  You select the pair that fits in your nose.  The manufacturer ecommends replacement every 3 months.    The total yearly cost for this is product about $80.00.  But it does nothing to close your mouth, which is where 85% of your snoring comes from.

-Nasal decongestant nose clip.  Comfortable to wear.  The unscented version didn't do anything for any of our clinical test subjects.  The science here is still under study.   Just "opening the nasal airway" will not by itself significantly reduce open-mouth snoring.  Your mouth, throat and nasal respiratory system doesn't work quite that way.   However, any "nasal" anti-snoring device that can help open the nasal passages may be useful in improving your breathing.  That can be more helpful if you also use an anti-snoring product that closes the mouth - like the SnorEnder.

NOBODY offers a ONE YEAR Money Back Guarantee - except SnorEnder.

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*SnorEnder Refund Policy:

The products we make and sell are all custom, hand-made items and require significant labor.  We will refund 50% of the purchase price when you return the product to us at the address listed here or on the enclosed instruction brochure that comes with your order.  Shipping & Handling fees are NOT refundable.  We will also charge a $5.00 refund fee because the credit card processors also charge us to issue a refund to your card.  If this is not agreeable to you, please don't order.  Thanks for understanding.

No refunds are given after the ONE YEAR Guarantee period is expired.

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There are, of course, many other anti-snoring aids to choose from, including nose clips, bed frames, herbal aromatherapy, tubes that fit in the mouth, and even sonic alarms that are triggered by snoring noise. 

Are These "BAD" Products?

ABSOLUTELY NOT!

None of these anti-snoring products are necessarily "bad."  In fact, most of them are great products from great companies that really care about their customers.  These products DO help many people to reduce or even stop their snoring. But, because snoring is such a difficult problem, we urge you to try the anti-snoring remedies we have discussed above, and please let us know if you have found something not listed here that works for you.  You may find one or more of them to be of real value in helping to reduce the snoring. 

But, if like us, you have tried just about everything, and have not yet found the snoring relief you need, we suggest that you try the new SnorEnder.  It may be what you are looking for.  And the cost per year will probably be substantially less than many of these popular remedies.

OK, But... HOW WELL DO THEY REALLY WORK?

Most people intuitively understand the problems that snoring causes in the home, on the job and to our health.  And all of us who snore, or sleep next to someone who does, want solutions that actually deliver at least some of the snoring relief they promise.  So, based on our own (and others') extensive research about their effectiveness, here are a few of the leading approaches to snoring reduction:

If you are looking for factual comparisons among the dozens of popular anti-snoring solutions available, we must disappoint you.  Lawyers for some of the most popular anti-snoring products have made it very clear to us that they do not want any comparisons between their anti-snoring products and the SnorEnder.  We, of course, comply with their demands, but we wonder why?

The SnorEnder probably isn't the "best" anti-snoring solution there is.  Like everyone else who snores or sleeps next to a snorer, we're still looking for that "ultimate" solution.  It is , however, a consistently reliable snoring reduction solution that works for many people - but it doesn't work for everyone.  That's why we have a ONE YEAR Money Back Guarantee.

You've Gotta BREATHE!

The actual return rate for the SnorEnder is about 5%, pretty good actually for this kind of product. We've seen some products that claim a "97%" success rate - that's pretty hard to believe.  We  have found that the SnorEnder has a success rate somewhere between 50-80%, and your "mileage may vary widely..."  You would be hard-pressed to find ANY product with a 97% kind of consumer satisfaction rate.

And it's a lot lower for customers who passed the NOSE TEST before they purchased a SnorEnder.

We tell you this because we want you to know that when an anti-snoring product claims to have a "97% success rate" - they're really not telling you the whole truth.  There are NO anti-snoring solutions that can consistently deliver that kind of performance today -  50-80% is about as good as it gets, regardless of the technology used.

In fact, we've observed that a high percentage of those customers who return the SnorEnder seem to have reported symptoms of "panic" while wearing it - they can't breathe easily during sleep.

The reason is actually simple - their nasal passages are clogged or impaired. They can't breathe properly through the nose, and the SnorEnder is doing what it was designed to do - keep the mouth closed.  Since you have to breathe, fix that nasal breathing problem and the SnorEnder can then help reduce or even stop most open-mouth snoring.  Otherwise, don't use it.

If you do return the product, please consider having an examination for sleep apnea.  This is a potentially life-threatening sleep disorder, so we urge you, if the SnorEnder isn't satisfactory, just mail it back to us - and then see your sleep specialist without delay.

Earplugs: 

If you've ever been on a firing range, around military jets, or near loud construction equipment,  you know how necessary a pair of earplugs can be.  But, earplugs generally don't work that well against loud snoring for three reasons. 

(1) You are trying to sleep right next to the sound "generator," where the noise is loudest and may continue throughout much of the night.

 

(2) Your skull bones are a wonderful sound conductor, enabling sounds to bypass earplugs or even sound-canceling ear muffs and penetrate into the inner ear. 

 

(3) Snoring is generally a lower-frequency sound.  These travel further and with greater strength than higher-pitched sounds. 

That's why stereo system woofers, nuclear submarines, whales, dolphins and even elephants communicate at lower sound frequencies - it travels further and makes a bigger impact on the receiver (that's YOU, sleeping next to the snorer)!

The best earplugs designed especially for snoring relief may be able to create a "white" noise in your ear, much like the sound of a waterfall, to hide or "cancel" other sounds. It can help. But they are quite expensive and can be very uncomfortable in the ear if you are lying on your side. 

And our recent experience with a top-of-the-line pair from a reputable online firm indicates that even the best ones can't always eliminate enough snoring noise to give a quiet, restful sleep. Particularly if the snorer next to you sounds like a lawnmower without a muffler!  We have also tried a popular foam earplug (disposable) advertised for snoring relief, but its performance didn't even match the inexpensive pair of sports or "shooters'" earplugs available at Wal-Mart, although the soft foam was more comfortable in the ears at night than the expensive earplugs.

Noise-Canceling Headphones: 

Some of the best of these are made by Bose, and they DO reduce snoring and other noises significantly - but not completely.  However, they are very expensive (the Bose noise-canceling headsets we have are wonderful, but cost more than $300 per pair - and when we used one in tests to reduce snoring noise, it broke at the headband from the sleeper's frequent tossing and turning).

Bose also makes an aviator noise-canceling headset; used by pilots worldwide in very noisy airplane cockpits, it costs about $1,000.  We tried it too.  Incredible!  But expensive.  And even with this wonderful ultra-high-end headset, the snoring could still be heard.  Sound was still being conducted around the headset, through the skull bones and into the inner ear.

The basic problem with wearing headphones at night is that you have to sleep on your back while wearing them - which means that YOU may start snoring now. And if you change sleeping positions frequently, you'll probably knock them off your head. Still, if you can afford them (and maybe you'll need two pair?), noise-canceling headphones may be a real aid in reducing unwanted noise.  But, not completely.

Sleeping on the Stomach:  

Remember, many (but not all) snorers DO tend to snore less when sleeping on their stomachs (if, at the same time, they keep their mouths closed?  And you ignore "nasal snoring...").  It's just that they don't STAY on their stomachs!  Because snoring is caused by air vibrating across loosened tissues in the mouth and throat, sleeping on your stomach may offer some help, at least temporarily.

However, snorers, like everyone else, tend to move around restlessly turning, tossing and shifting their heads from side to side in sleep.    This head movement is something that we've taken advantage of in the design of the acupressure features of the SnorEnder.

Sleeping on your stomach can also mask some apnea-related breathing symptoms, which is why you should tell your sleep partner to see a healthcare provider if you notice the snorer experiencing moments when his or her breathing seems to become very shallow or even "pauses").

But, many doctors of Chiropractic will caution that sleeping on the stomach may put unwanted torsional stress on the spine, jaw and neck, and that could lead to other health problems.  Anyway, serious snorers are often quite restless in their sleep, tossing and turning from stomach to side to back - where they just begin to snore again.

Appliances: 

That force you to sleep on your stomach (the "tennis ball" sewn into the pajama shirt) are often effective at doing this - if the snorer wears the shirt!  The first patents for this solution were issued in the late 1700s and early 1800s.

Mattresses: 

We have begun a long-term study on the TempurPedic mattress and pillow system to see if it is useful in helping reduce snoring.  So far, preliminary tests have been VERY positive.  However, the product is high-end (as much as $2,000+) - on par with the finest custom department store mattresses.  As the study progresses over the next few years, we hope to publish more details.

Read our Preliminary Snoring Study on what we found using the Tempur-Pedic (TM) mattress.  Please Note:  we have NO relationship with the Tempur-Pedic company, other than being a grateful customer.

Bed Risers: 

The theory is that lifting the headboard and/or mattress of the bed at least 4-6 inches higher than the feet will help the throat and mouth muscles return to a more "natural" position and eliminate or reduce snoring.  It may be worth a try, even the FDA suggests it.  But, you do need to be very careful in how you do it.  Otherwise the bed could slip off the risers and give you a real wake-up call!  Still, some people claim that it may offer some desperately needed relief. 

And, a recent (although quite unconfirmed) European medical study, suggests that raising the head during sleep might reduce the frequency and severity of some migraine headaches.  The science on this remedy is admittedly still pretty shaky and controversial, but many migraine sufferers have been known to try just about anything that promises even the slightest relief for their intense pain.

Diet: 

There is some data that may suggest a link between some sleep disorders and your diet.  Since there's so much information and controversy over diets (Atkins, low-fat...vegan, high protein, etc...), we're not going to cover it here.  This link is to a site that covers this topic in more detail: 

                  http://www.todaysdietitian.com/archives/td_0204p24.shtml

Snore Strips: 

These are ingenious adhesive strips that you place across the upper (or bridge) nose area before going to sleep.  The idea is that these strips have a stiff plastic rib that will gently pull your nasal passages open during sleet.  This, it is claimed, will allow you to "breathe" correctly and reduce or eliminate snoring. 

A companion product from another company, adhesive chin & mouth strips, is intended to be worn as a bandage under the lower lip and with flaps extending above the mouth.  This anchors the lower jaw to the upper mouth area.  It's actually a great idea and does work well for many snorers. But, it is obviously not usable for any man with facial hair.  It also tends to trigger acne and skin irritation in sensitive users, as the company itself warns. 

Our experience confirms the suggestion on one company's web site - that for "best results use BOTH chin and nose strips - the annual cost of using this approach is more than $300.

Many people who use these devices agree that you probably should use both the nasal and chin strip, and even then we observed widely varying results.  A few test subjects loved the combination and it worked well for them.  Others found little or no snoring relief.

The FDA has cleared a few brands of adhesive strips, and they can be found in drug stores and other retail markets.  Users of such products have reported widely varying results.  Many users love them, and we urge you to stick with the anti-snoring remedies you're using now if they work for you. We have tried them several times without a lot of consistent success, particularly where open-mouth snoring was involved.  In fact, in usage surveys of more than a hundred non-apnea snorers conducted over two years, few users reported that they were truly satisfied with either (or both) nose and chin products. But they may work for you and are certainly worth trying. 

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Consumer Reports recently examined sprays and nasal strips and stated:

Thirty percent of people older than age 30 snore. As many as 65% of those over 50 snore. The older you get, the worse the snoring gets. Products like (not listed here because their lawyers object) may offer some help. 

Consumer Reports looked at two different types of plastic strips users stick on their nose to open nasal passages and sprays that are squirted in the back of the throat." said Consumer Reports' Dr. Marvin Lipman.

As for the strips, the Food and Drug Administration has allowed several, including (not listed), to claim it "reduces snoring."  We have tried, tested, and observed snorers using nasal strips for more than three (3) years and have not found them to be that consistently effective over time.  If your experience is more positive, you are fortunate.

Consumer Reports said the strips may be worth a try. It also noted that the article that there are other options that you can try which do not cost anything.

"Losing weight and stopping smoking can certainly help occasional snoring. So can avoiding alcohol at bedtime," (Dr. Marvin) Lipman said.

"Men are twice as likely to snore until about age 50, then women catch up. Snoring can be a sign of a serious problem. People who snore loudly almost every night or wake up gasping, may have sleep apnea -- a serious breathing disorder. Sleep apnea can increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. No over-the-counter remedy will help with sleep apnea. People with the condition should be evaluated by a sleep specialist."

                                                 Copyright 2004 Consumers Union of U.S., Inc. 

NOTICE:  SnorEnder and SynComm Group have NO relationship of any kind with Consumer Reports.  The above information is widely available on the Web and is referenced here strictly for your information. 

Consumer Reports IN NO WAY endorses our products.

We have found that snore strips that hold the mouth closed can indeed be helpful and seem to work better when there is little or no sinus congestion.  Many independent researchers have observed that snoring increases significantly when you have a head cold, sinus infection or the flu.   If that is the case with you or your mate, perhaps a nighttime cold and sinus remedy may be helpful. 

If, like us, you have tried nasal strips, clips, inserts, or sprays without consistent success, you might want to consider the SnorEnder - it works for many people - but we would still suggest taking a sinus relief pill or liquid before bedtime if you have sinus congestion.  And you can certainly continue to use the nasal strips together with the SnorEnder if you wish. However, you will need one box of 30 nose and/or chin strips per month, per person. 

At a cost of about $13.00 per box each, your yearly cost will be about $156.00 (if you use both nose & chin strips at night, as many people do, the cost is about $26.00 per month -

or $310.00 per year).

Compare that to the SnorEnder Pro at only $69.95.

_____________________________________________________   *SnorEnder Refund Policy:   The products we make and sell are all custom, hand-made items and require significant labor.  We will refund 50% of the purchase price when you return the product to us at the address listed here or on the enclosed instruction brochure that comes with your order.  Shipping & Handling fees are NOT refundable.  We will also charge a $5.00 refund fee because the credit card processors also charge us to issue a refund to your card.  If this is not agreeable to you, please don't order.  Thanks for understanding.   No refunds are given after the ONE YEAR Guarantee period is expired. ____________________

Snore sprays: 

They do seem to work for some people, some of the time - although clinically, the effects tend to last not much longer than half an hour.  However, with an average price of $12.00 or more per bottle, they can be expensive when used every night. Product instructions tell you to "spray 2-3 times before bedtime.  Each spray uses about 1 ml, so the bottle will last about 20 nights.  That means that you will use about 1.5 bottles per month, per person. 

The yearly cost for your generic anti-snore spray is going to be about $215.00.  Compare that to the SnorEnder Pro at only $69.95.

Snore spray ingredients can include (as listed on the package):

1.  Popular snore spray:  Purified Water; Alcohol (7.5%); Glycerin; Essential Oil Blend (Wintergreen Oil; Menthol; Peppermint Oil; Anise Oil; Clove Oil); Propylene Glycol; Polysorbate 80; Sodium Saccharin; Cetylpyridinium Chloride

2.  Generic snore spray:  Purified Water; Alcohol (7.5%); Glycerin; Essential Oil Blend (Wintergreen Oil; Menthol; Peppermint Oil; Eucalyptol); Propylene Glycol; Polysorbate 80; Sodium Saccharin; Cetylpyridinium Chloride

3.  Popular snore spray:  Per 3 mL (3 Sprays): Vitamin E 7.0 mg; Vitamin B-6 3.0 mg; Olive Oil 198 mg; Sunflower Oil 85 mg; Peppermint Oil 57 mg; Almond Oil 28 mg; Sesame Oil 28 mg; Additional Ingredients in: Glycerine; Lecithin; Purified Water Base

4.  Anti-snoring tablets: This proprietary formula currently has a patent pending. It contains one part-per-million of Hydrastis canadensis, Kali bichromicum, Teucrium marum, Belladonna and Ephedra vulgaris; one part-per-ten-thousand and one part-per-million of Nux vomica; and one part-per-trillion of Histaminum hydrochloricum.  (banned by the FDA in 2004 because it contains ephedra, re-allowed in 2005?).

When using these sprays, you might want to keep in mind the recent Consumer Reports study:  

"Some sprays say they work by moistening the soft palate; others claim to work by firming up loose tissues at the back of the throat. But we've found no published scientific evidence that these sprays stop snoring," said Consumer Reports' Dr. Marvin Lipman.  

                                                                            Consumer Reports, 2003

And, with the sprays, you're coating your throat with a cocktail of "natural" ingredients, including essential oils, herbs and other compounds with potentially unknown side effects. Especially if you are also taking prescription medications, or suffer from allergies.  Let your doctor know what is in the snore spray.  It's probably harmless, but you're wise to be careful.   Nonetheless, here is some information from reputable medical sources, including WebMD, about some of the ingredients used in leading snore sprays:

Clove:  Do not use clove without first talking to your doctor if you have a bleeding or blood clotting disorder, or if you are taking any medicines to prevent or treat a blood clotting disorder. Clove has been reported to affect blood clotting. (WebMD)

 

Propylene Glycol:  Ethylene glycol and propylene glycol are clear liquids used in antifreeze and deicing solutions. Exposure to large amounts of ethylene glycol can damage the kidneys, heart, and nervous system. Propylene glycol is generally regarded as safe for use in food. According to the safety data sheets of industrial chemical manufacturers, chemicals such as Ethylene Glycol and Propylene Glycol will cause serious health conditions, including liver and heart damage and damage to the central nervous system if sufficient amounts are absorbed by the body. Ethylene glycol has been found in at least 34, and propylene glycol in at least 5, of the 1,416 National Priorities List sites identified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

 

Cetylpyridinium Chloride:  Synonyms: C16-alkylpyridinium chloride, pyrisept, 1-hexadecylpyridinium chloride, various trade names.  Use: sometimes used as an ingredient in pesticides. Molecular formula: C21H38ClN.  Stability- Stable. Combustible. Incompatible with strong oxidising agents, strong bases. Toxicology: Harmful by ingestion or inhalation. May cause severe eye irritation. Respiratory and skin irritant (and yet, it's used in a throat spray?).

 

SNORE SPRAY INGREDIENTS:

One of the more popular snore sprays contains the following ingredients (from the product label):

• Purified water
• Glycerin
• Olive Oil
• Lecithin
• Sunflower Oil (notice the number of different "oils" in this product!)
• Sweet Almond Oil
• Sesame Oil
• Grapeseed Oil
• Citric Acid
• Potassium Sorbate
• Orange Seed Extract
• Peppermint Oil
• Sodium Benzoate
• Methyl Paraben
• Vitamin B6
• Vitamin E Acetate
• Propyl Parben
• Disodium EDTA

If you examine the ingredients of any of the dozen or so snore sprays on the market today, you'll quickly discover that the key ingredients are oils and either peppermint, spearmint or eucalyptus flavorings.  Almost sounds like a "Meditteranean Diet" with all the oil you'll be spraying down your throat.  None of these is necessarily "bad" but Consumer Reports says that none have been proven to be of any use in helping stop snoring. That has been our experience too, but you may have better results.

SNORE SPRAY DIRECTIONS:

     "For ideal results use before going to sleep as a dietary supplement.           (??)

     Spray 3 to 4 times toward the inside upper part of your mouth. 

     Hold the spray in your mouth for 20 seconds and swallow

     (3.3 calories per serving).

If you're like so many of us who've tried them, you've learned that most sprays last about 15-30 minutes (if that) - the idea seems to be to stop the snoring long enough to get the partner to sleep before the snorer starts his or her "engines."  Nice idea.  So, try to fall asleep before your snoring partner, and just hope that you don't wake up too easily!

Anti-snore pillows: 

These may offer some relief to your non-snoring partner, but they can subtly disrupt the snorer's sleep patterns and may possibly contribute to chronic tiredness and even depression. (Its like being nudged every time you snore - the noise still returns and neither partner gets much rest). 

The best (and most expensive) pillows have electronic sensors that recognize the snorer's noise and apply pressure (usually by inflating one side of the pillow against the cheek).  This may cause the snorer to shift position - until the next snore comes along.  Meanwhile, the bed partner continues to endure "sleepus interruptus" throughout the night.

We've found a reasonably priced pillow made by Pillow-Pedic that is very good at providing head and neck support during sleep.  It is not a "snore" pillow, but we do recommend it if you suffer from a stiff neck in the morning.  Many Chiropractors recommend it.

There is also a new "anti-snore pillow" available that costs about $125.00.  Similar to other contoured pillows, this one seems to do a good job of supporting the head and neck, but that won't keep your mouth closed and it's doubtful that it would help reduce or stop most snoring.  The SnorEnder is a pretty good deal compared with some of the higher-priced anti-snoring products now available.

Nose Clips: 

An ingeniously simple product, nose clips are placed over the septum (the cartilage between your nostrils).  In magnetic nasal clips, powerful magnets are positioned at the ends of the clip.  Legal counsel for a distributor of one such product has demanded that we remove all references to their "nasal clips" from this site, and we have complied.   Hmmm...

Some types of nasal clips are placed deeper inside the nose openings and "expand" or keep them open during sleep.  If these are of interest to you, please see your ENT specialist to make sure that you don't have other problems.

Anti-Snoring Ring

A couple of new anti-snoring products are available.  They include a ring that you wear on your finger.  One that we've actually tried has a small burr on the inside and the theory is that this "pinches" a nerve in your finger and stops the snoring.  Priced at $49.95, it's very hard to understand how this can possibly work.  The few acupuncture points that have been documented in the finger have no known effect on snoring.  But, the body is amazing, and it just might be the very solution you're looking for?

We recently got a couple of very impassioned emails from someone who claimed that we "know nothing about acupuncture."  Well, we admit to being students of this ancient art, with much yet to learn.  Citing just one of hundreds of books on the subject of acupuncture and the nervous system, this enthusiast tried hard to get us to admit that putting a ring on your finger will stop the snoring. 

Sorry, but that's simply an opinion, not yet a fact.  Finger rings may indeed work, but our experience with them has been dismal-and they've been available in China for at least three decades. 

Nor is this claim necessarily supported by good acupressure, acupuncture or neurological research - the bi-directional role of nerve-endings (as triggers, receptors, signal pathways) and acupressure points in the extremities is very complex, still poorly understood, and highly controversial.  Before we say that putting a ring on your finger will stop your snoring, we'd really like to see more discusion in the relevant acupuncture literature.  But, go ahead and try it.  We have.

ONE YEAR Money Back Guarantee*     _____________________________________________________   *SnorEnder Refund Policy:   The products we make and sell are all custom, hand-made items and require significant labor.  We will refund 50% of the purchase price when you return the product to us at the address listed here or on the enclosed instruction brochure that comes with your order.  Shipping & Handling fees are NOT refundable.  We will also charge a $5.00 refund fee because the credit card processors also charge us to issue a refund to your card.  If this is not agreeable to you, please don't order.  Thanks for understanding.   No refunds are given after the ONE YEAR Guarantee period is expired. ____________________       Regrettably, we cannot accept print & call orders.  All product orders MUST be placed with the SECURE 256-bit shopping cart.

Cognitive Behavior Modification: 

Essentially, this is "thinking your way to a good sleep."  This approach may include both psychological counseling, clinical treatment and the use of mood-altering drugs.  Its new, controversial, and if nothing else works for you, give it a try.  The University of Maryland's Sleep Disorders Center has lots of good information on this approach and is a great place to learn more about sleep, snoring and other disorders:

                       http://www.umm.edu/sleep/adult_sleep_dis.html

Self-Help & Snoring Exercise Programs

Headbands: 

If engineered in a bio-medically sound manner, properly designed headbands can effectively support the jaw (keeping the mouth closed) and reduce or even eliminate snoring in many cases. They may help to some extent for nasal snoring, but they probably won't stop the noise completely.  Because they can help keep the mouth closed during sleep, headbands may also help reduce dry-mouth conditions and aid in reducing the tendency that some open-mouth sleepers have towards frequent sore throats caused by dry household air.  Of course, a good humidifier also helps.

Properly designed and manufactured headbands can offer the fastest, most consistent and lowest-cost relief from snoring.  But they may not work for everyone (and they are somewhat less effective where nasal snoring and chronic sinus congestion are involved - used together with nose tape, they do perform well), and only a few are available on the market today. 

However, the ones we've tried over the past several years have tended to be uncomfortable for every-night wear and even constricting (often making it difficult to open the mouth, even when needed).   Or, they offer too little support for the mouth, chin and jaw and lose their elasticity within a few months of every-night use.

A widely advertised headband, made of swimsuit fabric, is shown on the company's product web site and is worn by two models who are both shown sleeping on their stomachs.  Since we have found that far fewer people snore loudly while sleeping in that position, a better demonstration of a snore relief product's effectiveness is to show it on an actual sleeper (as we have done here with a low-light camera).

The low-light photo taken is of a sleeper wearing the an early prototype of the new SnorEnder Pro.  This technology is the result of more than 5 years of original research, trial & experiment and constant refinement.  Because we practice continuous product improvement based on research and customer feedback, the SnorEnder's core design and manufacturing techniques will constantly evolve.

Earlier R&D designs, although rough-cut compared to today's SnorEnder, confirmed our basic design goals, to provide:

• Effective bio-mechanical support to inhibit open-mouth snoring
• Enhanced magnetic therapy through the earpads 
• Acupressure stimulation of key points on the head, face and jaw area through the  earpads and elastic support system
• Comfortable, adjustable unit that can be worn all night with ease
• Low-cost snoring relief solution
• A snoring relief solution that works for most people, most of the time.
  

The SnorEnder is an advanced anti-snoring system that incorporates headband technology.  Its lightweight, comfortable design and integration of adjustable mouth and jaw support with subtle acupressure and magnetic therapy stimulation is unique (and patent pending).  There are NO other products on the market that offer the:

• Integrated features (bio-mechanical support, acupressure, magnetic therapy)
• 5+ years of original research that resulted in the SnorEnder
• Continuing R&D to improve the product and create new solutions

If you do happen to find something that "looks" like the SnorEnder, but you didn't buy it from this or one of our other OFFICIAL web sites, it's a fake.  It will not have the genuine features and capabilities of the real SnorEnder.  Nor will it work the way the SnorEnder does  So, if you do come across anything that "looks like" the SnorEnder, or claims to offer its unique capabilities, please let us know about it here. 

Headbands Can Be Effective Snoring Remedies

But ONLY if you can breathe easily and properly through your nose - when you wear one at night! 

Take the NOSE TEST to be sure BEFORE you buy a SnorEnder.

The use of headbands to reduce snoring dates well back in history, with references in the Middle Ages, the Elizabethan Age (Shakespeare), the Victorian Age (think: Sherlock Holmes) and well into the present.  A US Patent for an anti-snoring headband was issued in the early 1800's.  And in China, the use of headbands to reduce or stop snoring is at least 2,500 years old. 

What makes the SnorEnder unique is its integration of advanced biomechanical support for the mouth, jaw and chin, as well as its leading edge acupressure and magnetic therapy features.  There is nothing like it.  More than five years of reseach and several hundred thousand dollars went into the development of this effective snoring reduction system.  So, if you happen to come across an imitation, it isn't the real thing, and you do get what you pay for - years of careful scientific research.

An effective headband should be lightweight, comfortable, adjustable or "elastic" (to keep the jaw supported even when worn by large or heavy sleepers), and relatively durable.  The headband must support the jaw and mouth, and be comfortable when the sleeper is on his or her side - with the face against a pillow (nothing pressing into the side of your face). And it would be nice if the headband didn't mess up your hair too much. That's a very tough combination to get right.

With ANY headband, or snoring relief system that incorporates a headband (such as the SnorEnder), the greatest hurdle that the wearer must overcome is getting used to "wearing it at night."  If you won't use it, why buy it?

That means that you have to make sure that you can breathe through your nose.  Congestion, obstructions and disease can interfere with proper nasal breathing. Also, if you have a chronic sinus condition, low-level sinus irritation or an infection, breathing through your nose can be more difficult.  Therefore, it's important that you clear up any sinus congestion if you want to reduce or stop chronic snoring.  One effective home remedy for nasal and sinus congestion is the Neti pot.  Just do a Google search on the name and you'll probably find a local healthfoodstore that carries them. 

OK, I Ordered a SnorEnder.  Now What?

Since the only way any snoring relief solution can help is if it's actually used, getting accustomed to wearing the SnorEnder at night is important and that just takes time. 

Wear it consistently for a few weeks - you've got 30 days to try it.  And, surely, spending a little time in the evening to adjust and get used to wearing your SnorEnder is worth giving your husband or wife a good night's sleep? Not to mention reducing the health risks you may face from un-managed chronic snoring.

Most people actually "forget" that they have it on after about a week or two, and then it can work as expected.  Of course, the same can be said about prescription mouthguards, chin and nose tape or any almost other good anti-snoring approach.  Wear it.  Get accustomed to it.  Let it help you reduce or even stop the snoring.  Don't you owe that much to your spouse and family?  And your own health?

Because headbands are generally constructed with sewn fabric, elastic and perhaps other soft materials such as closed-cell foam, they do wear out.  Especially if used every night.  You should plan on caring for your SnorEnder as you would fine hand washables (hand-wash every 2-3 weeks or more often if needed in mild soap, air-dry & keep it away from heat, children and pets), and plan on replacing it when the elastic no longer provides adequate jaw and mouth support.   We include a brochure on wear & care with each purchase.

_______________________________________________

BUT, WHAT IF IT DOESN'T WORK FOR ME?

Let's be honest.  Nothing works "for everyone."  So, if the SnorEnder doesn't, at the least, significantly reduce your snoring, simply mail it back to us within one year from the date of purchase. 

Will it "STOP" ALL your snoring.  Probably not.  There is, truthfully, nothing available today, including surgery, that will do that - ALL the time, for EVERYONE.  But the SnorEnder has been shown to reduce chronic, habitual, loud snoring by as much as 60-80% or more when consistently used according to the simple instructional brochure we include with your purchase.

If you are not satisfied with the SnorEnder, just return it within the ONE YEAR Unconditional Money Back Guarantee period.  We will refund 50% of your purchase price (less S&H and Return Merchandise fees), normally within 45 business days.

_____________________________________________________   *SnorEnder Refund Policy:   The products we make and sell are all custom, hand-made items and require significant labor.  We will refund 50% of the purchase price when you return the product to us at the address listed here or on the enclosed instruction brochure that comes with your order.  Shipping & Handling fees are NOT refundable.  We will also charge a $5.00 refund fee because the credit card processors also charge us to issue a refund to your card.  If this is not agreeable to you, please don't order.  Thanks for understanding.   No refunds are given after the ONE YEAR Guarantee period is expired.

___________________________________________________________________

A few of the headbands available on the Web are made from Lycra (swimsuit material), which is comfortable but some Lycra fabrics can lose elasticity rather quickly in every night use.  Women understand this; a swimsuit worn daily usually lasts one short summer season.  That is why we use a more durable lycra/cotton fabric - and double the material to give your SnorEnder greater support, longer useful life, and better value for your money.

Some anti-snoring headbands are made from neoprene (wetsuit) material.  They can offer great elastic support, but many people find them a bit uncomfortable for every-night wear.  And as scuba divers, we learned a long time ago why wearing a wetsuit out of the water isn't a good idea. 

Our products (the SnorEnder Pro and SnorEnder) are designed to reduce open-mouth snoring, and in a number of studies on real snorers, they have even stopped most, but not all, chronic, habitual mouth-caused snoring, especially where there is little or no nasal obstruction. 

 

 



 

 

 

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*SnorEnder Refund Policy:

 

The products we make and sell are all custom, hand-made items and require significant labor.  We will refund 50% of the purchase price when you return the product to us at the address listed here or on the enclosed instruction brochure that comes with your order.  Shipping & Handling fees are NOT refundable.  We will also charge a $5.00 refund fee because the credit card processors also charge us to issue a refund to your card.  If this is not agreeable to you, please don't order.  Thanks for understanding.


 

No refunds are given after the ONE YEAR Guarantee period is expired.


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Chin Support Pads: 

 

The only one we've used comes from Australia and it's not bad!  That one does seem to work best (in our tests) on sleepers who don't shift position a lot during the night. If that's you, this is a low-cost product that's definitely worth a try. For the restless sleepers in our studies, the chin pads sometimes tended to shift out of place, a potential cause for worry as it could possibly restrict throat airflow for a sleeper who moves from a "sleeping on-the-back" position to sleeping on the stomach - as it did on several worrisome occasions.

 

Mouthguards:

 

Oral appliances that look something like the football versions.  They can offer significant snoring relief but to be effective, they must be custom-fitted by a dentist or specialist - and they are expensive. And mouthguards are not recommended for people who grind their teeth at night. 

 

However, many people just never really get used to having one of these appliances in their mouth every night, with the increased production of saliva that can happen, or the discomfort of having something hard pressing against the tongue and teeth all night.  Jaw discomfort has also been noted due to the fact that the jaw is essentially immobilized or "frozen" all night.  Too often, the mouthguard stays in the bedside drawer, the snoring continues and everyone gets more and more frustrated. Still, mouthguards can work, if fitted by a dental professional, and if they are used properly and consistently.

 

A leading dentist-fitted mouthguard can be effective, with snoring reduction rates claimed to be in the 90% range.  People who have used it tell us that they have about a 50-80% success rate - still pretty good!.  The cost for a dentist-fitted anti-snoring appliance can run from $600 to well over $1,500 or more, and at least two visits are required.  Some insurance plans may cover the expense.   If the SnorEnder doesn't work for you, we'd suggest looking into a dentist-fitted device, and not the over-the-counter ones.

 

3/22/2008 - Recently, TV commercials for inexpensive mouthguards have appeared. The cost is about the same as for the SnorEnder Pro.  You can get one that enables you to heat it, usually in water, and then "custom fit" it as the device cools.  While these types of mouthguards have been available for at least twenty years, they don't work that well for people who have trouble with excess saliva production.  They also don't work very effectively for people with jaw problems or for those who may not tolerate intrusive devices in the mouth while they sleep.

 

Baby Pacifiers: 

 

No, really!  A team of German scientists has come up with a new approach to help those suffering from heavy snoring.   They have developed a special pacifier for adults, designed to bring immediate relief.  It's actually a very clever concept.

Specialists from a major university have created a device that enables those suffering from chronic snoring to enjoy sound sleep themselves.  They also claim that it helps family members get needed rest at night as well. The device resembles an ordinary baby pacifier and uses the same principle as swallowing. When the patient sucks on the pacifier, the tongue rests behind the teeth. When the tongue remains motionless, the soft palate no longer vibrates, and consequently it prevents that annoying snoring sound from occurring in the first place. In addition, while holding the pacifier tightly in his mouth, the person is not inclined to open his mouth.  We would be concerned about the impacts of holding a pacifier "tightly" in the mouth.  Could it exacerbate existing tempromandibular joint pain?

According to one of the University's experts in the field of snoring,  the device managed to cure 7 out of 10 patients from snoring in a study, a very promising result. They still "need a little bit more time to learn to use the device properly in order to reach outstanding results."

 

Of course, you just might want to ask any young mother or her pediatrician about the bad effects of wearing a pacifier all night - rapid tooth decay, an overbite as your front teeth are pushed out of position...  And, although once we read about this study and tried to get the men in our studies to at least "try" a pacifier, none of them would. Still... it's a clever and potentially great solution for some types of open-mouth snoring.  We're waiting to see if any products appear on the market.

 

Surgery: 

 

The right surgical procedure can make a real difference.  Some surgical methods are claiming an astounding 90% "cure" rate.

 

The "fine print" means that 90% of patients have some improvement - it doesn't mean that they stop 90% of the snoring completely. Newspaper reports indicate that actual snoring may be reduced by as much as 50% - so this is a very good snoring solution.  But, with some of the cheaper procedures costing more than $1,000, it's still expensive.

 

The most expensive, invasive and potentially risky of the snoring remedies available, surgery can take one of several approaches.  We have summarized the major surgical options here, but if you are interested, please see your healthcare provider to determine if you are a candidate. 

 

Because snoring is a multi-faceted condition, repeat or additional operations may be required as part of the snoring management plan. Not all patients can anticipate 100% control of snoring through surgery (or ANY other snoring remedy, including the SnorEnder), although the majority of patients do have useful improvement.

 

And if you suffer from sleep apnea, some surgical approaches are not advised.  Only a qualified sleep specialist can tell you if anti-snoring surgery is right for you. More information on snoring and sleep apnea can be found on the U.S. Government's Medline Plus web site at:

 

     Snoring:   http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/snoring.html

 

     Sleep Apnea:   http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/sleepapnea.html

 

If you snore, you may have Obstructive Sleep Apnea.  ONLY your healthcare professional can diagnose this potentially life-threatening sleep disorder.


 

Traditional surgery:  

 

Choosing this option means that you are placed under general anesthesia while your surgeon tightens and trims excess throat tissues.  Think of it as a "face-lift" for your throat. The procedure can reduce the intensity (loudness) of snoring most of the time, but it probably won't eliminate it entirely. It is usually a painful surgical procedure, requiring 1 to 3 days' hospitalization and a painful 2-3-week recovery period.  Of course, if invasive and painful surgery is required to "tighten & trim" muscles and tissue in your throat, how can non-surgical anti-snoring products do the same thing?  The simple answer is:  they probably can't.  So don't expect them to, regardless of any claims made.

 

 

Laser surgery: 

 

Performed in an outpatient environment, laser surgery for snoring is called laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty (LAUP).  Under a local anesthetic, your doctor uses a small hand-held laser beam to shorten the soft palate and remove the uvula. Literally burning away excess tissue, the surgeon enlarges your airway and reduces vibration. Treatments are based on the severity of the snoring problem and you may need two to five sessions (or, in some case, more), each one lasting about 30 minutes. These treatments are done 4 to 6 weeks apart, and can be painful. Because of its cost and recovery time, laser surgery isn't generally advised for occasional, intermittent or light snoring, but it's an option if your snoring is loud and disruptive.   Insurance plans rarely cover these procedures.

 

If you have sleep apnea, laser

surgery isn't recommended.

 

 

Radiofrequency tissue volume reduction, or somnoplasty:

 

This is a newer type of surgery in which your doctor uses a low-intensity radiofrequency (RF) signal to surgically remove part of the soft palate and reduce snoring.  It's an outpatient procedure performed under local anesthesia. The technique causes slight scarring of the soft palate, which may help to reduce snoring. The long-term effectiveness of this new procedure needs further study.



 

Implants

 

The FDA has recently approved an implant for the treatment of snoring.  This device - Dacron PET threads - is surgically inserted into the tissue in the throat to stiffen it and reduce the likelihood of snoring.  Does it work?  So far, clinical trials indicate that it has therapeutic value.  Early outcomes indicate that it may reduce snoring loudness by about half.  But, many patients still snore. Both the product and procedure are very new, and many people prefer to wait for a few more years of patient experience and clinical results before going under the knife themselves.  If nothing else works for you, this is a option.

 

Of course, remember that surgery (even outpatient) is an invasive medical procedure, with attendant risks of infection, unforeseen consequences, and even the potential (however remote) for death - it IS, as we've said, SURGERY. 

 

If nothing else works, surgery may be the proper solution, but perhaps it's only wise to suggest that less invasive, costly and far less risky approaches, like the SnorEnder, should be investigated first.  There is always time to consider surgery.




  

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Disclaimer:  Statements not evaluated by the FDA.  Not intended for treatment of sleep apnea or any disease.  Sleep apnea is a potentially life-threatening sleep disorder.  If you think that you may have symptoms of sleep apnea (or if you return our product), you should see your doctor immediately.  No medical or health claims are expressed or implied.  Product intended for comfort only.