A new review has revealed that brushing removable dentures with a paste product might be the best way to keep them clean, better than soaking in effervescent or enzyme cleaning solutions.

Keeping dentures clean and free from plaque buildup can help prevent oral infections and gingivitis; however, few clinical studies focus on the best way to clean partial or complete dentures.

This scarcity of studies on real-life patients was surprising, said lead review author Raphael Freitas de Souza, D.D.S. Most studies of denture cleaning methods happen in the laboratory. "We need clinical trials," he said.

Dr. de Souza, with the Ribeirão Preto Dental School of the University of São Paulo in Brazil, and colleagues evaluated six randomized controlled studies. In some studies, the denture wearers were in institutions, while other studies involved patients at university dental clinics. Studies compared different denture cleaning methods to one another or to a placebo.

Cleaning methods included soaking dentures in enzyme solutions, soaking in effervescent solutions, routine brushing with a paste product and a combination of brushing and soaking. The studies examined the effects of each method on outcomes such as irritation in the mouth or inflammation of the gums and other oral tissue, the presence of bad breath and how much plaque was on the dentures.

Although it is not possible to draw a strong conclusion on what method works best, de Souza said, there was weak evidence that among chemical cleaners, enzyme-cleaning products were more effective than a placebo.