How to clean dentures: a daily denture care routine

To clean dentures, take them out and rinse them after meals. Every night, brush them outside your mouth with a soft brush and a denture cleanser (not toothpaste), then soak them in water or a denture-cleaning solution while you sleep. In the morning, gently brush your gums and tongue, and rinse the denture well before putting it back in.

Whether your dentures are new or you have worn them for years, it is normal to have questions. Here is the full routine, step by step.

How to clean dentures, step by step

In 2011, the American College of Prosthodontists (ACP) published evidence-based guidelines for the care of complete dentures (Felton et al., J Prosthodont). Their first point is simple: removing plaque from your mouth and your denture every day is key to your health. This routine follows those guidelines and MedlinePlus:

1. After meals: take the denture out and rinse off food with water. Rinse your mouth too.
2. Every night: remove any leftover adhesive. Brush all surfaces of the denture, outside your mouth, with a soft brush and a nonabrasive denture cleanser.
3. Soak it: leave it overnight in water or a denture-cleaning solution.
4. Every morning: rinse it thoroughly before putting it in. Denture cleansers are meant to be used only outside your mouth (ACP).
5. Once a week: look at it in good light. Check for cracks, loose teeth or rough edges.

What should I clean it with? Is toothpaste OK?

Better not. MedlinePlus advises scrubbing dentures with plain soap and lukewarm water, and not cleaning them with toothpaste or mouthwash. The ACP guidelines explain the concern: some pastes are abrasive and can scratch the denture. A nonabrasive denture cleanser is what they recommend.

Keep one brush for your denture and a separate soft brush for your mouth. If you wear a partial, keep brushing your natural teeth as usual.

Is it OK to sleep with dentures in?

It is not recommended. The ACP guidelines advise against wearing dentures 24 hours a day. MedlinePlus says to take them out at night to help prevent sores, infections and inflammation.

A study published in the Journal of Dental Research in 2015 (Iinuma et al., PMID 25294364) followed 524 people aged 85 or older in Tokyo for 3 years:

• Among denture wearers, about 4 in 10 slept with their dentures in.
• That group had more plaque on the tongue and denture, more gum inflammation and more yeast (Candida).
• They also had about 2.4 times the risk of pneumonia compared with people who took their dentures out.

This was an observational study: it shows a link, not proof of cause. Still, taking your dentures out at night, clean and in water, is a simple habit.

How to soak dentures: what to use and what to avoid

When your denture is out of your mouth, keep it in water. If it dries out, it can warp (ACP).

Use

• Water or a denture-cleaning solution.
• Denture cleansing tablets: they are for soaking. Follow the package directions and rinse the denture well before putting it in. Never use them in your mouth.
• Lukewarm water to wash and rinse it.

Avoid

• Boiling or very hot water. The ACP says dentures should never be placed in boiling water, because they can warp.
• Bleach. The guidelines advise against soaking dentures in bleach or products that contain it, because it can damage them.
• Toothpaste or mouthwash to clean them (MedlinePlus).
• Home repairs or adjustments. If it rubs or breaks, call your dentist.

Denture adhesive: a little, used well, without zinc

Adhesive is optional. According to the ACP, used properly it can help your denture stay in place and keep food from getting underneath. Their guidelines say:

• Use a small amount: 3 or 4 pea-sized dots on each denture.
• Remove it every day, from the denture and from your mouth.
• Choose one without zinc. As a precaution, the ACP advises avoiding zinc-containing adhesives. In 2011, the FDA asked manufacturers to improve their labels, after reports of nerve and blood problems in people who used large amounts of zinc adhesive for a long time.
• If you need more and more, your denture no longer fits as it did. That calls for a checkup, not more adhesive.

Your gums, tongue and palate need cleaning too

Even without teeth, plaque builds up in your mouth. On MouthHealthy, the ADA recommends brushing your gums, tongue and the roof of your mouth with a soft brush each morning, before you put your denture in. MedlinePlus adds a daily rinse with lukewarm salt water and giving your gums regular rest.

A dry mouth can make dentures rub and feel uncomfortable, and many medications cause it. We explain what helps in dry mouth causes and what helps. Do not stop or change any medication on your own: talk with your doctor.

Signs your denture needs an adjustment or a reline

Over the years, your bone and gums change, but your denture does not. MedlinePlus explains that a loose denture moves around and causes sore spots. Watch for these signs:

• It moves when you talk or eat, or it falls out.
• You need more and more adhesive (ACP).
• You have sore spots or areas that rub and hurt.
• The gums under your denture are red or swollen.
• It is broken, cracked or missing a tooth.

Often an adjustment or a reline solves it. We cover your options in loose dentures: adjustment, reline or a new set. If your denture is new and was placed the day your teeth were removed, read immediate dentures: the first 90 days.

A yearly checkup and oral cancer screening, even with no teeth

The ACP recommends that denture wearers see a dentist once a year. The visit checks the fit, the bone and any sores or lesions in the mouth. Your denture can also get a professional cleaning.

There is another important reason: the oral cancer exam. According to the NIDCR, the risk goes up with age and is most common after 40. Tobacco and heavy alcohol use raise it further. The exam takes only a few minutes: the dentist checks your face, neck, lips and whole mouth.

The NIDCR advises seeing a dentist or doctor if any of these lasts more than 2 weeks:

• A sore, irritation, lump or thick patch in your mouth, lips or throat.
• A white or red patch in your mouth.
• Jaw swelling that makes your denture fit poorly or feel uncomfortable.

When to book a visit

Schedule a checkup if any of these apply:

• Your denture moves, rubs or needs more and more adhesive.
• You have sore spots, or red or swollen gums under the denture.
• A sore or patch in your mouth lasts more than 2 weeks.
• It has been more than a year since your last checkup.

When not to wait: if your face or jaw is swollen, or you have a fever, call your dentist the same day. If you have trouble breathing or swallowing, call 911 or go to the emergency room.

How we do it at PureSmile

PureSmile Miami opens on November 2, 2026, at 8000 SW 117th Ave, Suite 100, in Kendall. At your first visit, our dentist checks how your denture fits, examines your gums and your whole mouth, including an oral cancer exam, and walks you through your X-rays to explain whether you need an adjustment, a reline or simply your usual routine. We see patients in English or Spanish, verify your insurance for free and give you a written treatment plan before we start.

Join the waitlist or call us at (305) 787-3642.

Related guides

• Loose dentures: adjustment, reline or a new set?
• Immediate dentures: what to expect in the first 90 days
• Dry mouth causes: medications, aging and what helps
• Dentures in Kendall: your options

Frequently asked questions

How do you clean dentures properly?

Outside your mouth, with a soft brush and a nonabrasive denture cleanser, or with mild soap and lukewarm water. Then soak them overnight in water or a denture-cleaning solution.

Is it bad to sleep with your dentures in?

It is not recommended. Taking them out at night helps prevent sores, infections and inflammation. In a study of people aged 85 or older, sleeping in dentures was linked to more than double the risk of pneumonia.

Can I clean my dentures with regular toothpaste?

Better not: MedlinePlus advises against toothpaste and mouthwash, and the ACP notes that abrasive pastes can scratch dentures. Use a denture cleanser or mild soap.

What are denture cleansing tablets for?

They are for soaking, always outside your mouth, and they do not replace daily brushing. Rinse the denture well before putting it in.

Can I use hot water or bleach on dentures?

No. Boiling water can warp them and bleach can damage them. Use lukewarm water.

Do I need to see a dentist if I have no teeth?

Yes, once a year. The dentist checks the fit, your gums and bone, and does an oral cancer exam.

General information; it does not replace an in-person evaluation. Sources: Felton et al., ACP guidelines for the care of complete dentures (J Prosthodont, 2011); Iinuma et al. (J Dent Res, 2015); MedlinePlus; NIDCR; FDA (2011); MouthHealthy (ADA). Yoan Suárez Zayas, DMD · FL Lic. DN 21413.