Is Your Toothpaste Giving You Canker Sores?

Sufferers of canker sores typically spend hundreds of dollars trying to find relief. What they may or may not know is that by switching to a SLS (sodium laurel sulfate) free toothpaste could alleviate the majority of outbreaks.

For whatever reason some people are especially susceptible to canker sores. This could be a sign of hyper sensitivity to sodium laurel sulfate.

Sodium Laurel Sulfate is a chemical ingredient found in products like shampoo, deodorant, hairspray, mouth wash and toothpaste. It is used as a thickening agent as well as to create suds or foam because consumers have been taught that more sudsing action equals clean. We like a good lather.

Sodium Laurel Sulfate is a fancy way to say soap. It is used in detergents designed to clean oil, degrease engines and is even found in the detergents used in car washes. Soap is a chemical that is not advisable for the mouth because it has been proven to cause drying and damage to the tissue lining the inside of the mouth. The damage caused to the tissue actually removes the protective barrier that keeps bacteria from affecting the layers of tissue underneath. What is astonishing is that this "soap" or SLS agent keeps the mouth so clean that is prevents good bacterias from being able to heal the sore.

In one study conducted, ten people were assigned to use toothpaste containing SLS for three months and then switch to a toothpaste without SLS for three months. At the end of the study there was 64% less new outbreaks of canker sores in those who used the SLS free toothpaste compared to those who used normal commercial toothpaste.

So what are you supposed to do, not brush your teeth with toothpaste? Not necessarily. There are toothpastes on the market that SLS free. You can find a list of SLS free toothpaste manufacturers and retailers at the Skin Deep website.

A few common SLS free toothpaste brands are Squigle, Biotene and Nature's Gate.

According to my personal dentist, there is no real reason for toothpaste other than it tastes good and leaves your breath smelling minty fresh. He recommends using a combination of a few drops of hydrogen peroxide with baking soda as a toothpaste alternative.

Before you decide that your toothpaste is the cause of your canker sore problem you should always consult with a Dental professional. There are several types of cankers sores as well as other common causes such as an allergy to fluoride, stress, lowered immune system, acidic foods and food allergies.

Sources:
Institute for Vibrant Living: http://www.instituteforvibrantliving.com/literature_review/canker_sores_and_toothpaste.php
TheraBreath: http://www.therabreath.com/art_cankersores.asp
Natural Health Information Center: http://www.natural-health-information-centre.com/sodium-laureth-sulfate.html