A denture collects plaque, food and stains just like natural teeth, but it is made of a softer material that scratches and warps easily. Cleaning it well keeps your breath fresh and your gums healthy, and helps the denture last longer.
The daily routine
- After meals: take the denture out and rinse it under running water to remove food bits. A quick rinse after chai or a snack stops stains and food from building up.
- Once a day, brush it properly: use a soft toothbrush or a denture brush with mild liquid soap or a denture cleaning paste. Brush every surface, including the side that touches your gums, where plaque hides.
- Protect it while cleaning: fill the basin with some water or lay a folded towel in it. A dropped denture can crack or chip on a hard sink.
- Overnight: soak it in a glass of plain water or a denture cleanser, following the instructions on the pack. A denture left to dry out can change shape.
- Rinse before wearing: always rinse off soaking solution before you put the denture back in.
Clean your mouth as well
- Gently brush or wipe your gums, palate (the roof of your mouth) and tongue with a soft brush or a clean damp cloth each morning. This removes plaque and improves blood flow to the gums.
- If you have a partial denture, brush your remaining natural teeth twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste. Pay extra attention to the teeth that hold the clasps, because food and plaque collect there and decay starts easily.
What to avoid
- Regular toothpaste and whitening toothpaste: they are abrasive and leave fine scratches that trap stains and germs.
- Hot or boiling water: it can warp the acrylic so the denture no longer fits.
- Bleach: it whitens the pink base and corrodes metal parts of partial dentures.
- Hard brushes, steel wool or kitchen scrubbers.
- Toothpicks or pins to scrape stubborn deposits. Bring the denture to your dentist instead.
Flexible and metal dentures
Flexible (nylon-type) dentures stain more easily and some cleansers can affect them, so use a cleanser recommended for flexible dentures. Partial dentures with a metal frame should not be soaked in products containing chlorine. If you are unsure what your denture is made of, ask at your next visit.
Stains and hard deposits
Tea, coffee, turmeric-rich curries and especially tobacco and gutkha leave brown stains. Over months, minerals from saliva can also harden into tartar on the denture. Home brushing will not remove these once they set. Your dentist can clean and polish the denture in the clinic, which is a good idea at your regular review.
Signs your cleaning is not enough
- A persistent bad smell or taste from the denture.
- Redness or soreness on the gums under the denture, especially the palate. This can be denture stomatitis, a fungal infection linked to poor cleaning and overnight wear.
- White patches that wipe off, which may be oral thrush.
These usually clear with better cleaning, removing the denture at night and, if needed, medicine from your dentist. Read more on our page about denture sore mouth, or see the dentures questions hub for related questions.
