Denture Adhesive: How to Use It Safely, and When It Means a Refit

What adhesive can and cannot do

A review of 39 studies in people with complete dentures found that adhesive, compared with none, improved how well the denture stayed in place, bite force and chewing performance¹; the effect on bite force and chewing was smaller. A later network meta-analysis found cream and powder adhesives effective for holding the lower denture and for bite force on the back teeth², with a moderate level of certainty. A review of 10 randomised trials rated the quality of evidence very low³. So adhesive helps many people, but how much it helps varies.

Adhesive can also make a well-fitting denture feel more secure. What it cannot do is make up for a denture with significant faults: professional guidance states that adhesives are not a remedy for ill-fitting dentures, which may need to be relined or replaced⁴, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) describes them as temporary relief⁵.

The studies are almost all about complete dentures. For a partial denture or a denture held by implants, ask your dentist before using adhesive.

Cream, powder or strip?

Adhesives come as creams, powders and strips or pads. The studies do not show that one form is best for everyone, and this article does not rank products. Each form is applied differently, so follow the instructions on the pack.

How to use adhesive safely

Part of the guidance below comes from a 2011 guideline and a 2019 expert report that were both funded by a company that makes adhesives and cleansers; it is professional consensus rather than trial evidence.

1. Start with a clean denture. Apply adhesive only to a clean denture. For creams, an expert consensus says a small amount on a clean, dry denture once a day should be enough, and advises not eating or drinking for the first five minutes⁶ after putting the denture in.
2. Use a small amount. Follow the product's instructions and use the smallest amount that holds. As a guide for creams, a 2011 guideline suggests three or four pea-sized dots on each denture⁷. If adhesive oozes out around the denture, you have used too much: wipe the excess away rather than swallow it.
3. Keep an eye on how fast it goes. The FDA says a 2.4-ounce tube used for upper and lower dentures should last seven to eight weeks⁵, and suggests noting the dates you start and finish each tube.
4. Remove it every day. Before sleep, take the denture out and clean all adhesive from the denture and from your mouth⁶, using gentle scrubbing so as not to damage the denture.
5. Give your mouth a rest. Dentures should not be worn 24 hours a day⁷; take them out at night unless your dentist advises otherwise.

The zinc warning

Some denture adhesives have contained zinc. In published case reports and series, people who used very large amounts of zinc-containing adhesive over long periods developed copper deficiency, which can damage the nerves and blood cells. In one series of 11 patients, all had ill-fitting dentures and used large amounts of denture cream⁸; their copper and zinc levels returned to normal after stopping the cream. In the cases the FDA describes, people used at least two tubes a week. The FDA states that it has not found conclusive evidence that these problems result from using zinc-containing adhesive as instructed⁵.

What this means in practice:

• A 2011 guideline advises avoiding zinc-containing adhesives as a precaution⁷.
• Zinc-free products exist, but ingredients may not always be listed; check the pack or ask a pharmacist.
• Excess adhesive combined with zinc supplements can add to the zinc in the body.
• If you notice numbness or tingling in your hands or feet while using adhesive, stop using it and see a doctor.

A large manufacturer announced in 2010 that it was stopping its zinc-containing adhesives⁹ as a precaution and would move to zinc-free versions. That does not mean every product today is zinc-free. Evidence on the effects of adhesives on the tissues of the mouth beyond six months was described as lacking⁶ as recently as 2019, which is one more reason for regular check-ups.

When adhesive means the denture needs attention

After teeth are removed, the jawbone shrinks, most noticeably in the first 3 to 12 months and then more slowly for life⁷. A denture that fitted well can therefore loosen over time, and the guideline recommends a check once a year.

A professional position statement says a denture should be evaluated for replacement¹⁰ if, among other things, adhesive is needed to eat or to keep the denture in place socially, or has to be applied more than once a day. The same statement warns against using more and more adhesive to make up for a poor fit. Other signs to have it checked:

• You need more adhesive than before for the same hold
• The denture rocks, slips or causes sore spots
• It is cracked, worn or damaged

There is no evidence to set how often dentures should be relined or remade¹⁰. The same statement suggests evaluating a denture that has been in use for more than five years; that is a prompt for an examination, not a rule to replace it every five years.

If a lower denture keeps coming loose despite a good fit, implants that hold it in place are one option. In randomised studies, implant-retained lower dentures were on average more satisfying than conventional ones¹¹, although the size of the benefit is uncertain. For how dentures, bridges and implants compare, see alternatives to dental implants.

Cleaning and night-time care

• Every day, outside the mouth. Brush the denture with a soft brush and a non-abrasive denture cleaner, soak it in a cleaning solution as the product directs, and rinse it well before putting it back. A review of 44 clinical studies found that combining brushing with a chemical cleaner was more effective than either alone¹². A Cochrane review found no good evidence on which cleaning method is best¹³.
• Cleaners stay outside the mouth. Denture tablets and solutions are only for use while the denture is out⁴.
• No hot water or household bleach. Never put a denture in hot or boiling water, and never use household bleach or powdered household cleansers. If a denture cleaner contains sodium hypochlorite, do not soak the denture in it for more than 10 minutes⁷. Follow the label, and ask your dentist before using a chemical cleaner on a denture with metal parts or a soft lining.
• Toothpaste. Advice differs: the American Dental Association accepts toothpaste or mild soap, other guidance says not to use ordinary toothpaste, and the 2011 guideline asks for a non-abrasive cleanser. Mild soap or a non-abrasive denture cleaner with a soft brush is common ground.
• At night. Clean the denture before you store it: a review found that cleaning before overnight storage reduces the growth of Candida yeast¹⁴, that storing it in plain water alone may encourage Candida, and that dry storage caused only clinically insignificant changes in shape. The 2011 guideline, by contrast, advises storing dentures in water to avoid warping. Ask your dentist which suits your denture's material.
• Your mouth too. Clean your gums, tongue and any remaining teeth, and remove all adhesive from them.

When to see a dentist

Make an appointment if:

• You need more adhesive than before, or need it more than once a day
• A sore spot or ulcer under the denture does not heal within a couple of weeks
• The denture rocks, slips, cracks or breaks (do not repair it yourself)
• Your gums under the denture are red, swollen or painful

If you have numbness or tingling in your hands or feet while using adhesive, stop using it and see a doctor.

Emergencies. If you think you have swallowed or breathed in a denture or a piece of one, seek urgent medical help. Difficulty breathing or swallowing: go to the nearest emergency department or call 112.

Frequently asked questions