How to clean dentures properly

More than 32 million Americans live with dentures — and most would agree that they take a little getting used to. Chewing, swallowing and pronouncing certain words can take some relearning to feel comfortable.¹ It’s all about developing new habits.

Caring for your mouth and gums requires new habits, too. While worrying about cavities may be a thing of the past — at least for those with full dentures — new false teeth still require daily upkeep and regular dental visits.

“I think there’s a general assumption that when you get dentures, life will be easier, and your oral care routine will diminish. But that’s actually not the case,” says Jessica Saurino Buehler, DDS, senior director of Dental Affairs and Oversight for Delta Dental of California and Affiliates.² “You still have maintenance you need to do to keep dentures clean, fitting correctly and functioning optimally.”

Here’s what to know about keeping them in shape.

In this article:

• The steps to proper denture care
• Cleaning dentures every day
• Denture cleaner
• Long-term denture care
• How to whiten dentures

The steps to proper denture care

“Caring for your dentures can be simple once you get into a routine,” says Judith Jones, DDS, MPH, DScD, a spokesperson for the American Dental Association³. Made of combinations of polymer, porcelain, metal and resin, dentures can’t decay like “normal” teeth.⁴ They are vulnerable, however, to plaque buildup and calcium deposits. They can also acquire unsightly stains.⁵

Regular cleaning not only keeps your dentures looking good, but it also helps prevent potentially harmful diseases like denture stomatitis. Affecting up to 70 percent of denture wearers, this common condition can lead to pain while swallowing, soreness in the mouth or throat, and cracking at the corners of the mouth.^6,7

Cleaning dentures every day

The American College of Prosthodontists (ACP) recommends soaking and cleaning dentures on a daily basis.⁸ Needs may vary among different wearers, so it’s a good idea to talk to your dentist. One common regimen looks like this:

Nighttime routine:

1. Remove your dentures. For Dr. Buehler, removing the appliance every night is one of the most important rules. “A lot of people sleep with their dentures because they don’t want to be without teeth,” she says. But if the gums can’t breathe, it can lead to infection, she notes.⁹
   
2. Rinse. Do a quick clean under tap water to remove food and debris.¹⁰ For safety, place a towel in your sink before rinsing and cleaning your device. “If you drop it over your porcelain sink and it fractures in half, that’s an expensive moment,” says Dr. Buehler.
3. Brush your dentures. Use a denture brush (or a soft toothbrush) to gently clean your appliance. If you wear adhesive, this is the time to scrub that off, as well.¹¹
4. Soak. To prevent warping, dentures should be stored in water or a cleaning solution anytime they’re outside of your mouth.¹² Overnight, a denture cleaning solution will help remove buildup, which can lead to discoloration.¹³
5. Swish with mouthwash. If you sense any rough texture on your gums, Dr. Buehler recommends wiping your mouth gently with a washcloth before swishing with an alcohol-free rinse. A daily swish can also help support mouth and gum health.¹⁴

Morning routine:

1. Clean your gums. To stimulate circulation and help remove plaque, start your morning by brushing gums, tongue and the roof of your mouth.¹⁵ “This can help reduce the risk of oral irritation and bad breath,” says Dr. Jones.
   
2. Rinse. Give your dentures a rinse in the sink to wash off any cleanser. “We don’t want the chemicals in the cleanser suctioned to our soft tissue,” says Dr. Buehler.
3. Insert your dentures. Place your dentures back in your mouth, using an adhesive or pad if needed.

Denture cleaner

Denture wearers should reach for a denture cleaner to keep their oral appliances fresh and clean. “The cleaning solution is critically important because it actually breaks up the calcium deposits that build up on the denture,” says Dr. Buehler. Calcium in your saliva helps keep natural teeth strong over our lifetime, but it also can adhere to the dentures.¹⁶

Products to try include Efferdent Anti-Bacterial Dental Appliance Cleanser, CVS Health Overnight Whitening Denture Cleanser Tablets and Polident Antibacterial Denture Cleanser.

Long-term denture care 

Just like natural teeth, your dentures need dental checkups. According to the ACP, denture wearers should have their oral appliance checked each year by a professional to ensure a proper fit.¹⁷ After natural teeth are removed, the bone in your jaw may shrink and change shape, requiring regular denture adjustments.¹⁸

If you are experiencing slipping or ill-fitting dentures, denture adhesives can help prevent movement inside your mouth. Pads are a popular solution, as well. But Dr. Buehler explains that these should only be used as temporary stop gaps until you can be seen by a professional. “Needing to use a paste or adhesive pad is a sign that you need to get your denture refitted or relined to your mouth,” she explains.

Specific adhesives include Fixodent Complete Denture Adhesive Cream, Super Poligrip Denture Adhesive Powder and Poligrip Power Max Denture Adhesive Cream. Pads include Sea Bond Upper Denture Adhesive Seals or Poligrip Super Strong, All-Day Hold Denture Adhesive Strip.

At your doctor’s visit, your health care provider will also check your gums and mouth for any sign of irritation or disease.¹⁹ Infections, oral sores, hot spots and signs of mouth cancers are some of the things they will look for.²⁰

Dr. Buehler also recommends avoiding common pitfalls:

• Never boil dentures or place them in a dishwasher. They can melt.

• Don’t adjust or glue broken dentures at home — leave that to the pros.

• Make sure your dentures are labeled with your name. That can help avoid mix-ups in health care settings.²¹

How to whiten dentures

The polymer or porcelain used to make the teeth part of dentures can stain like natural teeth — but it doesn’t respond in the same way to traditional whitening products.²² The best way to avoid discoloration is to keep up with your daily routine, advises Dr. Buehler.

At your regular dentist appointment, your health care provider should offer a deep clean.²³ “If you have a stain that’s not coming off, your dentist should be able to get that off and give you back a nice, clean-looking denture,” she says. “That’s part of a regular checkup — not an additional fee.”