How to Clean Dentures?

Your dentures may not be made up of real teeth, but you still want to keep them bacteria-free, unstained, and looking their best, right? Well, similarly to natural teeth, dentures must also be cleaned daily to remove food residue, as well as to prevent the buildup of dental plaque and the development of permanent stains. Hence, taking proper care of your dentures is the most sure-fire way to prevent issues like plaque and the formation of tartar, which can lead to bad breath. Scroll down to learn how to clean your dentures! 

We recommend that you clean your dentures at least once a day (before bedtime). Follow the steps listed below daily to ensure your dentures stay in good shape and to keep your gums healthy. 

1. Prepare your bathroom. Get ready to clean your dentures by filling up your sink with warm water and roll up a towel and place it on the edge. You can also put another towel on the floor – especially if you have tile or stone floors – just in case your dentures fall accidentally. 

2. Use warm water to loosen the denture. Gargling with warm water will help loosen the seal from your denture adhesive, so you’ll find it easier to take your dentures out. 

3. Take out your dentures. To remove your dentures, start with the bottom denture by holding the middle part between your thumb and middle finger, and gently loosen the denture with a back and forth motion. When you feel the denture start to come away, gently pull up and out. Then remove the top denture with similar motions as the bottom one. When you feel the denture release, push the denture up and outwards, taking care not to hurt your gums. 

4. Rinse your denture under running water to get rid of loose food particles. 

5. Use a denture brush or a soft regular toothbrush to brush your denture. You can use water, denture paste or non-abrasive toothpaste. Avoid regular toothpaste with abrasives. 

6. Remove adhesive residues in your mouth. Gargling with warm salt water will help remove any residue adhesive. Then, use a clean washcloth to wipe along your gums and the roof of your mouth before rinsing your mouth out with warm water again afterward. If you have any stubborn adhesive bits, you can also brush your gums with a very soft toothbrush. If you wear a partial denture, brush your natural teeth. 

7. Soak dentures overnight. Use a denture cleaning solution or water to soak them, but you can also use fast-acting cleansers before storing your denture in the water afterwards. Always follow instructions on the denture cleanser pack. If you have a partial denture, then make sure you use a cleaning solution designed for partials. 

8. Before inserting your denture in the mouth in the morning, make sure you rinse your denture thoroughly with water first. 

Many people think plaque and tartar are the same thing. And although they do have a strong connection to each other, they differ in quite a lot of things. For starters, dental plaque is a sticky, colorless, soft film that continuously forms on the surface of your dentures. It contains bacteria, which can cause gum disease and denture decay in partial denture wearers. Tartar is the hardcore, tougher version of plaque, capable of causing denture discoloration. It’s formed when the residual plaque on your dentures reacts with the minerals of your saliva. Plaque can calcify and start to turn into tartar over time if you’re not taking proper care of your dentures. 

For the best results we recommend you use cleaning products formulated to clean your dentures. Some denture cleansers come in a tablet form you can dissolve in water or you can get a denture soaking solution to clean the dentures overnight. 

Are you hungry for more? Check out our cleaning and maintenance guide, learn how to whiten dentures and remove stains, and discover what foods you can eat as a new denture wearer!