Sometimes dentures can smell bad.  This is simply because the types of bacteria which accumulate on dentures are the same as those which accumulate on natural teeth and oral tissues.

Certain types of this bacteria are responsible for causing bad breath; when not removed from dentures, this can lead to bad breath caused by dentures (AKA, “denture breath”).

Even though dentures are artificial, they require the same level of care as natural teeth – if not more – to ensure your mouth remains healthy and free of malodour.  Dentures may appear to be solid, but are in fact designed to be porous.  This means that a quick surface brushing is usually not enough to adequately rid of all bacteria.

Learn more about cleaning and caring for dentures.

Denture cleaning solutions designed to be used overnight are the most effective way to kill bacteria on dentures.  Overnight soaking can kill 99.9% of denture bacteria.

These products can be easily found on most grocery store or drugstore shelves.  Some cleaning products are designed and advertised to be “quick-fix” or “fast-acting” for those who require denture cleaning on the fly.  However, these do not provide as thorough of a clean as an overnight solution.

We encourage you to incorporate overnight soaking into your daily routine to maximize the level of disinfection and cleaning to your dentures.  This is the most effective way to maintain good oral health and eliminate bad breath.

Many people do not remove their dentures often enough.  This allows bacteria to accumulate and grow more rapidly.

Removing your dentures regularly not only allows you to properly clean the dentures, but also provides the opportunity for you to brush or wipe the tissue areas covered by the dentures in your mouth..

Ideally, your dentures should be removed after every meal for cleaning.  In most cases a thorough cleaning of your dentures and oral tissues once per day is adequate.  Denture adhesive should be reapplied before every use.

While surface brushing is still important, it is not enough on its own.  Cleaning tools such as ultrasonic denture cleaners can be used to supplement brushing and overnight soaking.  These cleaners utilize high frequency sound waves and water to penetrate and clean the hardest to reach places in your dentures.

• Use a mouthwash regularly to help control microbial populations in your mouth
• Brush your dentures and clean your mouth after eating or drinking sugary foods (including alcohol)

Ensure your dentures are in good repair; damaged dentures in need of a retrofit may have cracks and crevices for microbes to grow