People ask us all the time for tips and tricks to make putting your teeth in easier. They want to know “Do you put top or bottom dentures first?”
The truth is that there is no one right order that works for all who wear dentures. That means that there’s more than one correct answer to the question “do you put top or bottom dentures first?” However, we have some tips to help you find the best way for you:
When Can It Help to Put Top Teeth in before Lower?
If your lower denture tends to move around a lot, it can be helpful to put your upper denture before the lower. When a lower denture feels loose, it can be knocked out of place when you put in your top denture and this can be uncomfortable and awkward.
In addition, if your top plate has a very high, steep palate, it can be best to put it in first. Not having your lower teeth in will give you more room to insert your top teeth.
For tips on how to keep lower teeth in place, check out this blog.
Do You Put Top or Bottom Dentures First When You Have a Strong Gag Reflex?
If you have a strong gag reflex, experiment with which denture you start with to see if one way or the other is more helpful. One tip we can tell you for sure is to breath through your nose when putting in your upper denture. Breathing long, slow breaths through your nose while inserting your upper denture can reduce gagging.
What if your full dentures tend to get stuck? For tips on removing stuck dentures, check out this blog.
When Can It Help to Put the Bottom Teeth in Before the Top Ones?
If your bottom teeth have a long pink gum line that extends back a long way along your jaw, sometimes it’s easier to start with your bottom denture. The same is true when you have a very tall lower denture. Starting with a tall lower denture takes advantage of the extra space from not having your top teeth in your mouth.
If you’re frustrated specifically with your lower denture, check out this blog to learn more about lower denture problems and solutions.
If you need help making your dentures fit better, we can help! We help hundreds of denture wearers with loose and uncomfortable false teeth feel better every year.
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