Upper or Lower Night Guard? Which Is Better?

If you’re one of the tens of thousands of bruxers in America, a night guard is likely part of your treatment plan. Bruxism, often simply called “grinding,” is a condition that causes you to clench your jaw and grind your teeth unconsciously. The pressure and movement it creates lead to problems like enamel erosion, jaw pain, cracked teeth, and more.

The question isn’t whether or not you need a night guard; it’s whether you need an upper or lower solution.

Both protect your teeth, keeping them from touching and gaining the necessary traction to grind. But there are various types of night guards.

This guide walks you through the job of a night guard and how to tell whether you need to order one for your top or bottom teeth.

Choosing Between Upper and Lower is a Must

Not sure what kind of night guard arch you need? You may have considered going with an upper and a lower and covering all your bases, but that’s not exactly how it works.

Yes, you must choose upper or lower. Wearing both at the same time can cause multiple problems.

For one thing, the discomfort of wearing both upper and lower guards can force your jaw’s alignment to shift, leading to an unnatural bite. This change creates extra strain on the jaw muscles; instead of relieving the symptoms of your bruxism, it could make them worse.

A well-fitted single arch provides enough protection to keep the teeth from touching and help your bruxism symptoms without the dangers of dual guards. Deciding between an upper or lower guard now becomes a matter of comfort, pain level, and durability.

Comfort

Let’s face it: If you’re uncomfortable wearing your night guard, you probably won’t want to use it.

But comfort is a personal thing, affected by factors like jaw shape and sensitivity.

Bruxism causes overuse of the facial muscles and excess jaw clenching. This movement may change your jaw shape and lead to premature aging. Wearing a night guard reduces this strain, helping prevent further shifting. 

Yet, while a night guard is vital to reducing bruxism, you want it to be comfortable enough to wear all night. 

Lower guards are smaller and, therefore, aren’t bulky or noticeable, so they work well for those with sensitive gag reflexes. However, wearing a night guard often increases salivary production, particularly when the guard is placed on the lower teeth.

On the other hand, upper night guards tend to reduce the extra saliva production. In this position, the guard covers the upper teeth’s biting surfaces, letting the tongue move freely, making them less likely to interfere with your speech or tongue movement. 

Since everyone’s oral anatomy is unique, deciding between an upper or lower option for comfort’s sake is a personal preference. Remember that a custom-fit night guard is essential to ensure the best comfort, whether you choose an upper or lower option.

Boil-and-bite and over-the-counter night guards don’t provide the nuanced coverage of all your mouth’s nooks and crannies.

Teeth Occlusion and Dental Work

Night guards are worn to help reduce symptoms of conditions like bruxism. Some dentists and doctors suggest a night guard for TMJ (temporomandibular joint) disorders or obstructive sleep apnea.

Yet, other splints and mouth guards may work better, depending on the severity of your condition.

A night guard reduces jaw muscle tension by serving as a barrier between upper and lower teeth and thereby allowing the jaw joints to be separated just enough to be more relaxed.

Because of this natural change, those with bruxism or TMJ disorders may feel improvement in their symptoms due to the reduction of teeth grinding. Upper night guards can also help with the painful side effects of malocclusions or misaligned bites.

Upper vs Lower Guards for Bite Alignment

How severe are your pain symptoms? If you’re dealing with jaw muscle tension, both top and bottom guards can help because they make a barrier that stops them from connecting. Without the traction of connection, the muscles get a chance to rest.

If your pain is from a TMJ disorder, a night guard can help by minimizing the impact of grinding on your delicate joint. Giving the temporomandibular joint a chance to rest reduces swelling and gives you relief from your symptoms.

That said, upper night guards are recommended for those with deep bite, while a lower guard is recommended for those with an underbite.

Protect Your Dental Work

Consider other places of pain in your mouth, such as an implant, a crown or a cavity. You may choose your night guard placement to cover the problem tooth and reduce further unnecessary damage.

Our Hybrid night guard features a soft inner layer that provides a cushion to provide enhanced protection for your expensive dental work. 

Durability

If the lifespan of your night guard is a concern, you may think choosing an upper or lower oral appliance matters. However, both arches have similar durability. The key to a longer lifespan is the material, not the location.

Bruxing can be mild to severe, and your level of teeth grinding determines how strong your night guard needs to be. A soft night guard may be enough to handle your symptoms if you're an occasional mild grinder or have sensitive teeth. However, a hybrid or hard guard is necessary for more intense clenching and grinding.

Whether you choose an upper or lower guard, consider the material when you shop. Night guards like those we offer at JS Dental Lab come in various styles, including soft, hard, and hybrid. Each version is made from a blend of materials that serve unique purposes, including:

• Polyethylene terephthalate (PET)
• Ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA)
• Thermoplastic polyester
• Dual-laminate material (a firm exterior and a soft inner layer)

Our night guards are created in the USA in our Hayward, CA, lab. Each guard is BPA, phthalate, latex, gluten, and sodium laurel/laureth sulfate-free. They pose no health risks and are biocompatible.

Lastly, did you know we offer a 12-month warranty where we guarantee your guard will last you at least 12 months or you get a free replacement?

Take our quick quiz to determine which type of night guard you need.

Final Deciding Factors

In the timeline of night guards, which stretches over 100 years, the upper arch was the first produced. Although we’ve come a long way since the use of a latex rubber called gutta-percha, this origin story could be why upper guards continue to be the most popular type.

Otherwise, upper and lower guards are interchangeable unless you have a particular comfort issue, pain need, or misaligned bite.

I'm excited to let you know that if the guard placement isn't quite right for you, we offer a hassle-free exchange for the opposite placement. We want you to feel confident and comfortable, so you can find the perfect guard that suits your needs!

One final factor to consider in your search for the best type of night guard is generic versus custom-fit. 

OTC Versus Custom-Made Night Guards

If you’re looking for a fast, cheap guard, you might be tempted to use OTC options or buy a boil-and-bite version online.

However, these night guards come with many downsides. They’re not fit for your unique teeth shape. Not only is this uncomfortable, but it can make your symptoms worse. Additionally, the materials they’re made of are cheaper, meaning if your bruxing is more than mild, you could chew right through them.  

Custom-fit night guards give you more options designed to help your unique level of bruxing. Generic guards are one-size-fits-most, while a custom guard is crafted from an impression kit using a mold of your mouth to create a perfect finished product.

OTC night guards can shift while in your mouth, but custom guards seamlessly slide over the upper or lower teeth. This comfortable fit reduces the risk of developing sores from the ill-fitting guard touching your gums and increases comfort.

Custom Night Guards Made Easy

Another benefit of choosing the custom-fit route is having a professional to guide you in making your decisions. Answers to questions like what symptoms you have and how severe your teeth grinding is will determine whether you need a soft, hybrid, or hard acrylic night guard. 

Affordability matters, too. However, you don’t have to choose between the hefty price tag of a dentistry night guard and cheaper but low-quality OTC guards.

At JS Dental Lab, we offer professional-grade, high-quality, custom-made night guards at a fraction of the cost of the dentist’s lab-made guards, plus office visits for fittings.

Choose your night guard based on individualized fitting and material quality. While a custom-fit night guard takes longer to receive, the advantages make it significantly worth the wait. 

Your unique custom night guard will be more comfortable and help you resolve your bruxing symptoms faster than an OTC guard. With JS Dental Lab, our 365-day return policy gives you the peace of mind of knowing you don’t have to keep something that isn’t working for you. We offer free adjustments and a free replacement, too!

Conclusion

Your search for the ideal dental night guard has you wondering if you need an upper or lower, but the good news is that most people can easily use either of these arches.

Unless you have a specific reason for needing one or the other — like dental work or a comfort issue — a custom-fit upper or lower night guard will reduce your jaw grinding and teeth clenching and ease the overworked muscles causing your pain.

To find the perfect fit, head to our website at JS Dental Lab and take our quick quiz to determine whether you need a soft material, a hard night guard, or something in between! 

Order your personalized upper or lower night guard today to start your journey of improving your bruxing symptoms fast.