The best nasal strips for a deviated septum: what they can do, and our pick

The best nasal strips for a deviated septum are firm, springy strips that sit squarely over the nasal valve and lift both sides of the nose evenly. A strip can make a narrow nose feel more open, especially when the bend is near the front. It can't move the septum, so the real question is whether your deviation is the kind a strip can reach, and when it's time to see an ENT instead.

Can a nasal strip help a deviated septum?

A nasal strip can help when the deviation narrows the front of the nose, near the nasal valve. The best evidence is a 1998 study in Laryngoscope that tested an external nasal dilator in 28 people whose septal deviation narrowed the nasal valve area, along with people with congestion and people with healthy noses. The dilator widened the nose and lowered resistance in every group, and the effect was larger in the septal deviation group. Unlike the congested group, those people also said their nose felt more open.

That's one small study, measured in a lab rather than over weeks of nights, which is why we rate the evidence as limited. Our full breakdown of the research is in do nasal strips help with a deviated septum?, so this guide focuses on choosing a strip and knowing its limits.

What should you look for in a strip for a deviated septum?

A deviated septum usually makes one side of the nose narrower than the other. Cleveland Clinic says the breathing difficulty is usually worse on one side. That changes what matters in a strip a little.

Strength is the trickiest choice. No study has compared regular and stronger strips for a deviated septum, so start with a regular strip placed carefully, and step up only if the narrow side still feels blocked. Our comparison of extra strength vs regular nasal strips explains the trade-off.

What can't a strip do for a deviated septum?

A strip can't straighten the septum, and it only works while it's on your nose. Cleveland Clinic says the only way to fix a deviated septum is with septoplasty, a surgery that reshapes it.

A strip also can't reach a bend that sits further back. It works by lifting the sides of the nose from outside, so its effect is on the front of the airway. The 1998 study only included people whose deviation affected the nasal valve area, so it doesn't tell us whether strips help when the narrowing is deeper inside. Titan's own product page says nasal strips may make breathing feel easier but don't correct a deviated septum, and that a nose that's consistently blocked on one side is a reason to talk to an ENT.

Cleveland Clinic also notes that most people with nasal valve collapse also have a deviated septum, and that while breathing strips can help manage symptoms, many people with valve collapse need surgery, especially when they have other structural issues. Our guide to nasal valve collapse covers the signs.

Should you try a strip or an internal dilator?

Both are worth a try, and there's no clear winner for a deviated septum. A 2004 study in Rhinology tested a strip and an internal dilator in 27 healthy people. Both widened the nasal valve and lowered resistance, and the internal dilator lowered resistance more. The authors said more studies are needed in people with chronic obstruction in the valve area, so it's hard to apply that result to a deviation.

In practice, a strip sits on the outside and leaves the nostrils alone, which some people prefer when one side is already narrow. An internal dilator sits inside the nostril. See nasal strips vs nasal dilators for a side-by-side comparison.

How do you get the most from a strip at night?

The basics matter more than usual when one side is narrow. Wash and dry your nose, skip moisturizer on that spot, and center the strip just above the flare of the nostrils so both pads sit evenly. Press both ends down firmly.

Your sleeping position may matter too. A 2024 study in the Ear, Nose and Throat Journal found that lying down narrowed the nose and that the turbinate on the side facing the pillow swelled, in people with and without allergic rhinitis. If your narrow side gets worse when it's facing down, try sleeping with that side up. Our guide on how to sleep with a deviated septum covers positions, saline and humidity in more detail, and how to apply nasal strips walks through placement step by step.

Give it a week of nights before you decide. One night on its own says little, because congestion changes from day to day.

When should you see an ENT?

A strip is a reasonable thing to try at home, but some signs mean it's time for an ear, nose and throat specialist. Cleveland Clinic suggests talking to a provider if your symptoms interfere with breathing, disrupt your sleep or affect other parts of your life. Book an appointment if:

• one side of your nose is always blocked, even with a strip on
• you get frequent nosebleeds, which Cleveland Clinic lists among deviated septum symptoms
• you've had a nose injury and your breathing or the shape of your nose changed
• you snore loudly and someone has seen you stop breathing, gasp or choke in your sleep, or you always feel very tired in the day, which the NHS lists as signs of sleep apnoea
• you're pregnant and your breathing has changed, in which case ask your midwife or doctor first

A 2016 meta-analysis found nasal dilators improve nasal breathing but don't improve obstructive sleep apnea, so a strip isn't a substitute for a sleep assessment.

Is surgery worth it for a deviated septum?

Surgery is a conversation for you and an ENT, and it isn't right for everyone. ENT UK says many people with a twisted septum have no blockage symptoms, that a bent septum won't do you harm if you leave it alone, and that surgery doesn't always improve symptoms.

For people with real symptoms, the evidence for surgery is strong. A 2023 randomized trial in the BMJ followed 378 adults with nasal blockage linked to a deviated septum. After six months, those who had septoplasty had clearly better symptom scores than those given a nasal steroid and saline spray, and those with worse symptoms at the start improved the most. Seven of the 174 people who had surgery were readmitted to hospital with bleeding. A strip can be a good way to manage symptoms while you think it over, or if you decide against surgery.

Our pick (paid partner): TitanAir Nasal Strips

Our pick for a deviated septum is TitanAir Nasal Strips from Titan Recovery. We haven't tested or ranked strips ourselves, and Titan's strips weren't used in the studies above; this is our recommendation, based on how Titan describes its strips against the checklist.

Titan says TitanAir strips are drug-free external nasal dilators with flexible spring-loaded bands that lift the nasal passages open. Its placement instructions put the strip where a deviation at the valve can be reached: just above the flare of your nostrils, on the soft part of the nose rather than the bony bridge, on clean, dry skin without moisturizer. In the morning, loosen it with warm water and peel slowly from the ends inward.

Titan is also straightforward that strips don't correct a deviated septum, which we appreciate. It says the strips are third-party tested and certified PFAS-free, and the 30-night guarantee gives you a month of nights to see how TitanAir works on your narrower side. They come in 30, 90, 180 or 360-night supplies with free US shipping.

Read next

• Deviated septum symptoms
• Deviated septum vs allergies
• Nasal strip buying guide

* This content is for informational and educational purposes only and is not medical advice. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease or health condition. Talk to a qualified healthcare provider about your health.