Denture Cleaning


Why do dentures require professional cleaning?

Dentures form plaque and tartar build up just like natural teeth. Once plaque hardens into tartar, it can be an invitation to bacterial accumulation and can cause tissue problems. Many people are unaware that dentures require daily care and professional cleaning. Tartar is very hard and cannot be removed by brushing or soaking dentures. You should never attempt to remove tartar off your denture by scraping the denture. This can cause permanent damage to a denture.

How are dentures cleaned?

Professional strength tartar and stain remover solution is used in the ultrasonic machine and cleaned for approximately 20-30 minutes or more. Dentures are brushed to remove any residual deposits or stain.

What are the advantages of professional cleaning?

Tartar build-up on dentures harbor high amounts of bacteria which can contribute to lung problems & can be pathway for toxins to travel through the body. Aspiration pneumonia is a cause of high bacteria in the mouth. Improper fitting dentures can lead to ulcerations on the gums related to tartar build-up.

Additional Information

Handle dentures with great care.

  • Place a face cloth on the bottom of the sink when cleaning dentures in case you drop them.
    • Brush and rinse dentures daily, but not with toothpaste!
    • Dentures can be cleaned with a mild, non-abrasive hand soap or liquid dish soap or denture cleaner
  • Ensure to use a separate brush for your teeth/gums and denture

Dentures should be never be worn all night. Our tissues need to rest & breathe.

Take proper care of dentures when not wearing them.

Dentures need to be kept moist when not being worn so they do not dry out or lose their shape. When not worn, dentures should be placed in a denture cleanser soaking solution or in water. However, if the denture has metal attachments, the attachments could tarnish if placed in a a bleach soaking solution. Dentures should never be placed in hot water, which can cause them to warp. Never use bleach on dentures. Vinegar and water solution is acceptable.

– Brush and rinse dentures daily, but not with toothpaste
– Dentures can be cleaned with a mild, non-abrasive hand soap or liquid dish soap. Or denture cleaner
– Ensure to use a separate brush for your teeth/gums and denture

Denture labelling is a ministry requirement in Long Term Care facilities. Labelling is non-invasive and will not damage a denture. This is an essential service in case dentures are misplaced they can be identified & returned without incident.

Denture labelling: $10.00 /  per denture
Denture cleaning: $23.00 / per denture