Is your mattress keeping you awake? The type of mattress you sleep on has a huge impact on your comfort level, sleep quality and health. From innerspring to latex, a wide variety of different mattresses are available, each offering its own advantages and disadvantages.

In this blog post, we’ll compare the three most common mattresses: memory foam, innerspring and latex. Whether you’re in need of a new mattress or just interested in increasing your sleep quality, learn more about the ideal mattress for your body type, sleep habits and personal preferences.

Debunking common mattress myths

Before we compare the three most common mattress materials, let’s clear up a few popular but untrue beliefs about mattresses. First of all, a firm mattress isn’t always the best choice for your joints, posture and overall health.

From soft and comfortable to firm and supportive, any type of mattress with enough of a supportive structure will keep your body in good shape. Studies show that your ideal mattress is as much about comfort as it is support or softness.

Secondly, there’s no best or most comfortable mattress material. Some people prefer memory foam, while others prefer an innerspring mattress. Don’t be put off buying a mattress you like because it’s the ‘wrong’ material – what matters most is comfort.

When should you buy a new mattress?

Great sleep is vital for good health, and sleeping on an uncomfortable mattress can make deep, refreshing sleep almost impossible. If you suffer from back or neck pain after waking, your mattress could be preventing you from sleeping soundly.

Likewise, if you wake up frequently during the night or struggle to fall asleep due to discomfort, your mattress may not offer the right balance of comfort and support for good sleep.

Michael Breus, PhD, the author of Beauty Sleep: Look Younger, Lose Weight, and Feel Great Through Better Sleep, says a good mattress should make you feel “no pressure, almost like you’re floating in air.”

If your mattress keeps you awake, puts pressure on your back, neck, and other joints in your body, or simply prevents you from having a refreshing night’s sleep, it might be time to replace it with one of the following three options.

Innerspring Mattresses: Pros and Cons

Most mattresses are innerspring mattresses. They’re constructed using coil springs for support, with most modern mattresses enclosing each coil independently for the utmost comfort and durability.

Innerspring mattresses usually have a top layer of memory foam, latex or pillow for comfort. A wide variety of innerspring mattresses are available, making it simple to find a mattress that offers your ideal level of comfort and support.

The biggest advantage of innerspring mattresses is their versatility: coil springs suit any body type and all comfort preferences. Experts suggest buying a mattress with a coil count of at least 390 for the right combination of comfort and support.

Below this coil count, you might not receive the support you need. Very overweight people shopping for an innerspring mattress might benefit from a higher coil count, which makes the mattress firmer and more supportive.

Latex Mattresses: Pros and Cons

Latex mattresses are less common than innerspring mattresses, but are popular due to their consistent support and great combination of firmness and comfort. Just like innerspring mattresses, latex mattresses are available in a variety of sizes, softness levels and styles.

Most latex mattresses are firmer than their innerspring equivalents. Even at similar levels of softness, the tendency for latex to push back and support your body makes latex mattresses feel more supportive and firm than other materials.

If you suffer from back pain, a latex mattress is a good choice. However, the firmness and support isn’t something that everyone finds comfortable. If you like a soft bed, a latex mattress might feel too rigid and prevent you from falling asleep easily.

Memory Foam Mattresses: Pros and Cons

Originally designed by NASA to make aircraft cushions safer, memory foam is now one of the most popular materials for mattresses. Memory foam softens when body heat is applied, allowing it to mould to your body shape for optimum comfort.

Memory foam mattresses typically contain several layers of foam, each of which is a different density level. This allows them to progressively mould to your body for the ideal combination of top-level comfort and lower-level support and firmness.

Since memory foam mattresses mould to your body shape, they’re very comfortable and almost completely pressure-free. Memory foam absorbs motion, making it one of the best choices for people that sleep with partners that move during the night.

The biggest disadvantage of memory foam is its tendency to absorb heat. Since it’s temperature sensitive, memory foam can retain your body heat while you sleep – a common complain of users is that they feel hot and sweaty while they’re in bed.

If you struggle to fall asleep at night due to discomfort, a memory foam mattress is probably the best choice. Just make sure you turn down the thermostat slightly or compensate for the heat retention with a set of summer pyjamas.

Which mattress is best for you?

Each type of mattress offers its own advantages and disadvantages, and there’s no ‘best mattress’ for everyone. Select the mattress that offers the best combination of comfort and support while solving your major problems achieving good sleep.

If you spend a long time in bed trying to find a comfortable sleep position, memory foam is a great choice. If you like a more supportive, firm mattress, try latex to leap out of bed in the morning, free of back pain. If you like a mattress that offers a bit of both, you’ll probably be happiest with an innerspring mattress.

Everyone’s different, and your ideal mattress might be too soft, too firm, or too hot for someone else. Try a variety of different mattresses and think carefully about the way you like to sleep and you’ll have no problem finding the ideal mattress for you.

To find out more about what The Odd Mattress Company mattress can do for you, click here and visit our store.

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