Abstract: A denture cleansing composition for dissolution in water to form a cleansing bath with a initial pH of not more than 4.5. The composition contains at least one bleaching agent, at least one tartar removal agent, and at least one carbonate or bicarbonate. A combination of citric acid and malic acid as tartar removal agents results in increased tartar removal compared to citric acid or malic acid alone. The bleaching agent is an alkali metal or alkaline earth persulfate, perborate, percarbonate, or perphosphate. Preferably, the active agents are present as visually discrete particles. The composition is more stable than compositions having bisulfate as a tartar removal agent and avoids the unpleasant taste due to bisulfate. Potassium monopersulfate is an effective bleaching agent. Sodium bicarbonate and carbonate act as pH regulators and as effervescence agents to avoid gradient formation in the bath and to help remove particles from the dentures.