How to clean dentures
Cleaning dentures is really about protecting them: they are slippery when wet, shatter if dropped on a hard sink, and warp in hot water. Line or fill the sink first, keep the water moderate temperature throughout, and store the denture submerged so it never dries out.
Step-by-step
- 1
Put on clean gloves before handling the denture.Critical
- 2
Line the bottom of the sink and/or partially fill it with water before holding the denture over it.Critical
- 3
Rinse the denture under moderate-temperature running water before brushing.
- 4
Apply denture toothpaste to the toothbrush.
- 5
Brush every surface of the denture.
- 6
Rinse all surfaces of the denture under moderate-temperature running water.Critical
- 7
Rinse the denture cup and its lid.
- 8
Place the denture in the cup with moderate-temperature water/solution and put the lid on.Critical
- 9
Rinse the toothbrush and set it in its designated basin/container.
- 10
Maintain clean technique while placing the toothbrush and denture.
- 11
Remove or drain the sink liner and/or drain the sink.
- 12
Remove and discard gloves without contaminating yourself and wash your hands.Critical
Critical steps (do not miss these)
- Line the sink with a towel/liner and/or partially fill it with water BEFORE the denture is over the sink, so a dropped denture is cushioned instead of shattered.
- Use only moderate-temperature (cool or lukewarm) water; hot water warps and permanently ruins dentures.
- Store the denture submerged in water or solution in a covered cup, never dry.
- Gloves on before handling; gloves off without self-contamination and hands washed at the end.
Common mistakes
- Holding the denture over a bare, empty sink with no towel or water cushion.
- Rinsing or storing the denture in hot water.
- Leaving the denture dry instead of in a covered cup of water.
- Skipping the rinse before AND after brushing.
Why it matters
A denture is a costly, custom-fit device made of acrylic that cracks on impact and distorts with heat, so nearly every scored step guards against those two failures: the lined/filled sink absorbs a drop, moderate-temperature water prevents warping, and cool-water storage keeps the material from drying and losing its shape. Examiners watch the sink-prep step closely because a dropped denture is the fastest way to fail and to harm the client.
Related skills
Source: 2023 NNAAP Skills Listing (Credentia), Skill 5 'Cleans Upper or Lower Denture'.