Snoring caused by breathing dry air can often be helped by using a good quality humidifier. Snorers from many homes use humidifiers to limit their snoring which is often caused by irritation of the throat and nasal cavities. So do humidifiers help with snoring? Yes, they certainly can!
With that being said, humidifiers can help to prevent snoring but they are not usually a complete cure.
If the problem in your home is dry air (which can be filled with allergens like dust), it’s a great idea to try a humidifier to see if it helps you to stop snoring.
We suggest that you make a video recording of yourself sleeping or alternatively, ask your partner to assess your sleep to see if the humidifier is making a difference.
What are the causes of snoring?
Snoring occurs if your air passages are narrowed. When there is a restriction of airflow in the nasal passage, snoring can happen. Several health conditions can cause snoring. One of the most serious causes of continual snoring is sleep apnea. Other factors of snoring can include the following:
- Age – The older we get, the more we snore! This is due to the decrease in muscle tone which causes our airways to constrict.
- Alcohol and other drugs – Booze and narcotics can relax the throat muscles, restricting airflow.
- Genetics – If you’re unlucky and born with a long soft palate, abnormal adenoids, or a really big tongue, you are more prone to snore. A deviated septum has also been known to be a major reason for snoring.
- Your sex – Men are more likely to snore overall but pregnant women are also in a higher risk group due to changes in their hormones and an increase in their body weight.
- General health – A lot of snoring is caused by nasal stuffiness which can be due to allergies or the ailments such as the common cold.
- Bodyweight – Being overweight or obese will increase the likelihood that you will snore.
- Sleeping position – The most frequent and loudest cases of snoring are caused by sleeping on your back. This is because the effect of gravity on the throat narrows the airways as you sleep.
- Smoking – It’s clear why people who smoke cigarettes are more likely to snore, but researchers suggest that it’s probably caused by upper airway inflammation.
What health conditions can a humidifier help with?
A humidifier is an electrical device that emits vapor into the air to increase humidity levels.
By using a humidifier in your home you can treat the following health issues:
- Dry skin
- Asthma
- Allergies
- Sinus congestion
- Irritated vocal cords
- Dry cough
- Cracked lips
- Dry throat
- Hay fever
- Chronic runny nose
- Nosebleeds
Please bear in mind that a humidifier will only help solve these health problems if a lack of humidity in your home is what is causing these conditions.
What causes people to snore?
Snoring is mostly the result of vibrating particles of air. Another cause of snoring is when the palate is vibrated by turbulent airflow. When we lay our heads on our pillows, a section of muscles at the back of our throats becomes constricted. As an equal amount of air is still being inhaled, there’s more vibration in the tissues around your throat.
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How do humidity levels affect snoring?
Almost all of us snore sometimes but habitual snoring occurs in around 40% of adult women and 57% of adult men according to sleep research.
It’s normal for people who snore (and their sleeping partner) to experience a number of issues. These can include a lack of attention span, tiredness, a weakened immune system, slower metabolism, and in some cases mental illness such as depression.
When the air is very dry, your nasal membranes and throat can dry out. This limits you’re airflow causing your throat tissues to vibrate. It can make congestion worse, too.
Do Humidifiers Help With Snoring?
Snoring is a huge problem in many homes with that being a stated reason for many marital breakups.
The lack of sleep caused by a partner’s snoring affects millions of people around the world. But don’t worry because there are a wide array of solutions with a humidifier being one of them.
A lack of sleep can lead to stress and irritability and over longer periods can lead to heart problems and an increased risk of stroke. A humidifier is unlikely to fix the snoring problem overnight, but over time, it can certainly help.
A humidifier works by increasing moisture in the air which has the effect of loosening mucus in the airways. This means there is less restriction of the nasal passage which results in decreased levels of snoring.
How do I test the moisture levels in my home?
You’re probably wondering if your bedroom is too dry or not. You can test the moisture levels in your home using a device called a hygrometer. The best hygrometer in our opinion is the SMARTRO SC42 Professional Digital Hygrometer at Amazon with a 4.6-star rating (at the time of writing).
A hygrometer will tell you if you need a dehumidifier or not. Experts suggest that the moisture levels of your home should fall between 30% and 50%. If they are below 30%, this could likely be the reason for snoring.
Can dry air cause snoring?
When you sleep in very dry air, your nasal passages can quickly become inflamed. Because of this, snoring can be made much worse by breathing this dry air.
For homes that lack humidity, a good quality humidifier can increase the humidity and be beneficial for those that snore. Please note that this issue is more obvious in seasons where you keep your bedroom windows closed all night.
A cheap solution to this issue is the AquaOasis™ Cool Mist Humidifier which has over 60,000 reviews on Amazon. It operates in total silence without any humming or whistling noises.
It can be used in any room and efficiently dispenses a soothing cool mist to help you (or your children breathe better and hence sleep better.
How can a humidifier help with snoring?
Dry air is often full of allergens like dust. When you use a humidifier to prevent snoring, the moisture in the air makes the allergens stick to room surfaces and floors. This can stop them from coming your way and ending up in your respiratory system.
The best humidifiers are also excellent air filters and remove these nasty allergens from the air to help you sleep more quietly.
Dry air causes your body to make more mucus and it is this that often leads to nasal congestion. This leads to irritation of the nose and throat causing them to become inflamed and making the airways narrower and restricted. It is a restricted airway that causes snoring and by using a humidifier while you sleep, you can remove the dry air that often is the reason for excessive snoring.
Do humidifiers help with sleep apnea?
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy is one of the most commonly prescribed treatments for people that suffer from sleep apnea.
CPAP devices are designed to keep your airways open while you sleep which is a solution for sleep apnea. These machines also improve respiration and because of this they usually aid overall sleep quality.
CPAP therapy is known for causing such issues as dry skin, dry throat, nosebleeds, and an overall reduction of moisture in the airways. By using a CPAP humidifier, you can relieve these symptoms and help with sleep apnea, too.
There are many products available on Amazon that you can see on this link.
Conclusion
If you’re sick to death of your partner continually moaning about your snoring, it might be time to improve your health, stop smoking, stop drinking, and adjust your sleeping position.
Do Humidifiers Help With Snoring? Well, in many instances the answer is yes. By investing in a high-quality humidifier, you should be able to get some relief from your snoring problem. But please note that it will not help if the issue is caused by underlying health conditions, such as sleep apnea or obesity.
Below is a list of the best humidifiers for snoring. This list has been curated based on effectiveness, customer reviews, price, guarantee, and after-sales service.
Best humidifiers for snoring
LEVOIT LV600HH Ultrasonic Air Humidifier
The Levoit Humidifier is our top choice for the best humidifier to reduce snoring. It has a large 6-liter water tank and it is really quiet compared to its competitors. The LEVOIT is a great way to quickly increase the humidity in medium to large-sized rooms.
LEVOIT Humidifiers for Bedroom Large Room 6L Warm and Cool Mist for...
- HIGH-EFFICIENCY, FOR WHOLE HOME: It provides humidification speeds 4× faster than others, which can quickly cover 753ft² of the area and last up to 50 hours. You can customize the target humidity you need, and feel hands-free with auto mode
- HIGH-EFFICIENCY, FOR WHOLE HOME: It provides humidification speeds 4× faster than others, which can quickly cover 753ft² of the area and last up to 50 hours. You can customize the target humidity you need, and feel hands-free with auto mode
- PATENT WARM MIST TECH FOR BEDROOM: It raises RH 10% in 20mins, providing greater relief from symptoms caused by dir air. Near-silent noise levels and all lights off help you sleep undisturbed
- PERFECT FOR LARGE ROOMS: With a mist output of up to 500 mL/hr, it can easily handle spaces as large as 753 ft² / 70 m². The large 6-liter tank allows you to humidify continuously for up to 50 hours, saving you the trouble of frequent refills
- AUTOMATIC TURN ON & OFF: With a built-in sensor, Auto Mode adjusts mist levels according to your settings to maintain a healthy humidity level
- HUMIDITY UP TO YOU: You can customize the ideal humidity percentage for your house plant, baby, or beloved guitar
- RELAXING AROMATHERAPY: Add your favorite essential oils to the aroma box and enjoy wonderful, fresh-smelling air
- CONVENIENT REMOTE CONTROL: Already in bed and don't want to get up. The convenient remote control lets you quickly turn on the humidifier from across the room whenever you need
With over 19K reviews on Amazon, customers are loving this humidifier for its ability to provide both warm and cool mist options. This feature means that you can use your machine the whole year round.
Another selling point of the filterless LEVOIT is the timer on the remote control. For example, just set it to switch on an hour before your bedtime so the conditions are just right by the time you hit the sack.
With a mist output of up to 500 mL/hr, the LV600HH IS GOOD FOR spaces UP TO 753 ft² / 70 m². The whopping 6-liter tank will humidify your home continuously for up to 50 hours.
Other points of note are the automatic shutoff function, aroma diffuser, and a solid 2-year warranty.
Everlasting Comfort Cool Mist Humidifier
The Everlasting Comfort Cool Mist Humidifier is our second choice for the best humidifier to minimize the risk of snoring. It is also suitable for medium to large bedrooms up to 500 sq feet.
Everlasting Comfort Cool Mist Humidifier for Bedroom (6L) - Filterless, Quiet, Ultrasonic...
- IMPROVED WELLNESS and COMFORT: Our ultrasonic humidifier works to add moisture into the air, turning any room into a comfortable, well humidified environment so you can begin to feel better
- LARGE 6L CAPACITY: Equipped with a 6L (1.6 gal) water tank, the air humidifier can run up to 50 hrs (when used 8 hrs per night on the lowest mist setting); 2x longer than smaller home humidifiers
- IMPROVED WELLNESS and COMFORT: Our ultrasonic humidifier works to add moisture into the air, turning any room into a comfortable, well humidified environment so you can begin to feel better
- LARGE 6L CAPACITY: Equipped with a 6L (1.6 gal) water tank, the air humidifier can run up to 50 hrs (when used 8 hrs per night on the lowest mist setting); 2x longer than smaller home humidifiers
- WHISPER QUIET: The large humidifier is nearly silent (less than 35 dB), making it ideal for use in the bedroom, baby nursery, office, or other spaces where noise levels need to be kept low
- HIGH MIST OUTPUT: Adjust the cool mist humidifier's mist output to high or low, and point the 360 degree nozzle in any direction for efficient and comprehensive coverage for spaces up to 500 sq ft
- HUMIDIFIER with ESSENTIAL OIL DIFFUSER: The large room humidifier has a built in essential oils tray. PRO TIP: Use this vaporizer with the Everlasting Comfort Essential Oils Set for home aromatherapy
- EASY TO CLEAN and MAINTAIN: Simple dish soap and warm water is all you need to properly clean the vaporizer humidifier. We recommended washing the tank once every 2 to 3 weeks and the base once a week
- USER FRIENDLY DESIGN: Our cool ultrasonic humidifier features just 1 simple dial to control all features. Plus, the water level window allows you to see how much water is left in home humidifier tank
- AUTO SHUT OFF FEATURE: Our silent humidifiers will shut off when the water level is low. The humidifier diffuser won't run when it's no longer effective to use; especially great for kids and babies
- LED NIGHT LIGHT: The cool mist vaporizer's built in LED night light is perfect for creating a calm environment and works well as cool mist humidifiers for kids who prefer to sleep with a night light
This sleek black humidifier will keep your room moist and reduce the likelihood of snoring. Like the LEVOIT, the Everlasting humidifier is filterless (which is a real plus as changing the filters can be a tiresome affair).
The Everlasting Comfort uses ultrasonic technology meaning that it runs so quietly (less than 30DB) that it won’t disturb your sleep with any sudden loud sounds. It has a large 6L (1.6-gallon) tank which means it will go for about 50 hours without needing a refill.
Another stand-out feature of this humidifier is the excellent mist output function. It is simple to adjust allowing you to release more or less moisture into the air so that you remain comfortable while you snooze. You can also use the built-in tray to release essential oils.
The Everlasting Comfort Cool Mist Humidifier comes with a 2-year no questions asked warranty making it amazing value-for-money considering all of its features.
GENIANI Top Fill Cool Mist Humidifier
The impressive GENIANI Top Fill Cool Mist Humidifier (with a 2-year warranty) is a great humidifier for snoring and fits small to medium-sized rooms (up to 220 square feet). It features an ultrasonic cool mist and you can fill your room with your favorite essential oils by placing them in the oil-tray.
It also has excellent noise-canceling ability, emitting just 38dB as it moisturizes your room.
GENIANI Top Fill Cool Mist Humidifiers for Bedroom & Essential Oil Diffuser...
- ✅ BECAUSE YOU DESERVE THE BEST: Our classic, dual-function air humidifier delivers instant comfort and relief on the spot when you need it most! Made so you can relax and unwind to your favorite essential oils about the house. Their wide 220 ft2 range makes them an optimal self-care solution and works especially well as humidifiers for large room areas.
- ✅ BECAUSE YOU DESERVE THE BEST: Our classic, dual-function air humidifier delivers instant comfort and relief on the spot when you need it most! Made so you can relax and unwind to your favorite essential oils about the house. Their wide 220 ft2 range makes them an optimal self-care solution and works especially well as humidifiers for large room areas.
- ✅ INNOVATIVE AUTO-FUNCTION FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE: This cool mist humidifier features an integrated smart sensor to automatically maintain a healthy room humidity level. All the more making it an excellent humidifier for home use as you can manually adjust and set the humidity level to either a low, medium, or high setting.
- ✅ NEXT-LEVEL APPROACH FOR DAILY USE: Sick of spilling water as your tank topples over when you try to refill your large humidifier? Lucky for you, our humidifiers for bedroom with essential oils tray are easy to refill! Simply remove the lid to replenish our top fill humidifier. Truly a revolutionary way to keep your rooms at your desired humidity level without all the fuss.
- ✅ WAKE UP FEELING FULLY RESTED: Get a good night's sleep thanks to our humidifier's silent, 30dB operating function. Enjoy undisturbed rest as our humidifiers for bedroom use keep your room's humidity level stable while you sleep. Relax and breathe easy throughout the night thanks to our humidifier moistening the air while being silent as a clock.
- ✅ A GREAT SLEEPING COMPANION FOR YOUR LITTLE ONES: Our humidifier’s smooth operating function makes it a great kids humidifiers for bedroom use so your children will sleep better throughout the night. Its auto features indicate when the tank is running low on water, automatically shutting off on its own and doubling as a neat night light for your kids! Perfect humidifiers for baby use, providing the utmost care and ambient atmosphere for your newborn’s protection throughout the night!
Air humidity is achieved via a built-in intelligent sensor that automatically adjusts to the desired humidity level. And it also features a low water level auto shut-off as an extra safety measure.
With a 4L water tank, the GENIANI lasts for around 12 hours on a high setting or 24 hours on a low setting making it child’s play to maintain your desired humidity levels without having to constantly refill the unit.
This humidifier is a big favorite among parents of newborns as it has a soothing night light to help kids fall asleep. The unit also ensures top-notch baby safety by shutting down automatically if there’s no water in the tank.
With over 26K reviews on Amazon and a 4.5-star rating (at time of writing), customers seem to be very impressed by how easy the machine is to refill. You simply pour water into the small insert at the top of the unit and you’re done!
Thanks for the image Air Snore Mouthpiece and Drops Me Wearing Device flickr photo by The Sleep Judge shared under a Creative Commons (BY) license.
If you enjoyed this article, you might like to read Breathe in peace this winter with the quietest dehumidifiers ever.
