If you grind your teeth at night, wearing a dental night guard will help prevent your teeth from becoming prematurely worn. While it won't cure your grinding, it does at least protect your teeth until you and your dentist can work out what is causing your nocturnal grinding. As a patient, you can opt to wear either an upper or a lower night guard. The choice is yours.

However, though it might not seem too important, there are some distinct differences between mouthguards. What works for one person may not work for another, so it's essential that you know the difference before having your dentist fabricate your custom night guard.

Upper Dental Night Guards are More Common

Originally, night guards, also known as occlusal guards or nocturnal bite plates, were invented for upper teeth and this is why most mouth guards you see nowadays are for upper teeth. However, that doesn't mean that upper night guards are better. It simply means they came first.

Neither is better, but there are several reasons that patients might choose one over the other.

Use a Lower Guard for a Strong Gag Reflex

In people that have a strong gag reflex, a lower night guard is the recommended choice. This is because upper night guards are in close proximity to the roof of the mouth. The gag reflex is triggered when the roof of the mouth is touched so it makes sense to go with a lower night guard.

Lower Guards Tend to be Smaller

Night guards designed for lower teeth are less bulky than their upper counterparts and so some people find them more comfortable. Speaking is also easier in lower night guards; however, tongue thrusters will struggle with a lower night guard as they may inadvertently lift it off their teeth with their tongue.

Upper Night Guards Don't Interfere with Your Tongue

Some patients and dentists prefer upper night guards because they do not come into contact with the tongue. If you have a large tongue for example, an upper night guard might be more comfortable for you.

Your Choice May Depend on Dental Work

Dental work too plays a part. If you'll soon be having some dental work done on your lower dental arch, for example, it is likely that your lower arch may change in some way. The same goes for your upper arch. In this case, it is better to purchase a guard for the opposing arch as otherwise your mouth guard may not fit properly once your dental work has been done.

The short answer is, there is no better option. However, your unique situation may dictate which guard is more suitable for you.