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Cleaning and Disinfecting Dentures

It is essential to maintain meticulous hygiene of both the oral cavity and dental prostheses. Dentures should be cleaned using either a soft manual toothbrush or a special denture brush, together with toothpaste and warm water (avoid very hot water). Special denture-cleaning products are also suitable.

Avoid abrasive cleaning agents, as they can roughen or scratch the surface of the prosthesis. Dentures should be immersed 2–3 times a week in a special cleaning solution for dental prostheses containing disinfecting ingredients. The solution is prepared by dissolving cleaning tablets, which are available from pharmacies.

Disinfecting dental prostheses is just as important as cleaning them. The surface of a denture is not perfectly smooth. Under high magnification, small microscopic cavities can be seen where harmful plaque bacteria, moulds and yeasts, including Candida albicans, can survive. These microorganisms cannot be removed through cleaning alone.

If a denture is not disinfected regularly, inflamed red patches may develop on the oral mucosa beneath the removable prosthesis. These patches can gradually increase in size and may eventually develop into sores, requiring treatment by a dentist.

It is important to clean not only the denture itself, but also the oral mucosa and, where applicable, any remaining teeth or treated tooth roots. Use a soft, medium-sized toothbrush to clean and stimulate the oral mucosa. At least once a day, clean all areas that are normally covered by the denture.