Plagued By Mouth Ulcers: Your Toothpaste May Be To Blame

Are you ashamed by how your mouth is, more often than not, battling a few ulcers here and there? Well this might be from your secret traitor:

Your toothpaste.

You might not have heard of Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), this little guy is a chemical compound widely used in personal care products for its foaming and cleansing properties. It’s the magic that helps toothpaste foam up and feel like it’s getting into all the nooks and crannies of your mouth.

While SLS is (generally) considered safe for use in most products, it can cause irritation particularly in the sensitive tissues of the mouth — ironic.

Mouth ulcers are usually triggered by a variety of factors including stress, hormonal changes, certain foods, and irritation. So it’s best to get a handle on these, especially if you’re planning on kissing any frogs soon.

Irritation: SLS can strip away the natural oils and lovely moisture from the delicate mucous membranes inside your mouth, leaving them more vulnerable to irritation and damage.

Some people are more sensitive to SLS than others, and experience an inflammatory response when the pesky fella comes into contact with your oral mucosa. This inflammation can make your mouth more prone to ulcer attacks — bit rude if you ask me.

Got a suspicion this might be you?

If you suspect that SLS is contributing to your mouth ulcers, there are a few ways to reduce your exposure:

• Go SLS-Free: Many toothpaste brands now offer SLS-free alternatives. These products are less likely to cause irritation or trigger ulcers, while still leaving you with that sparkling finish… Sounds silly to have it in the first place really.
• Its okay to be a little sensitive: Just look for products made for sensitive mouths — it should be pretty obvious which these are as they’re usually plastered with the word SENSITIVE all over them.
• Keep ’em clean: While SLS might be adding to your problems, don’t think the world is all cupcakes and rainbows after it’s been exterminated. Make sure you actually keep your teeth and gums clean and don’t put any …weird stuff… in your mouth, that could aggravate your delicate tissue into another ulcer encounter.

So, if you’re someone who always seems to be riddled with ulcers, grab that tube and have a look for Sodium Lauryl Sulfate in the ingredients. Try an SLS-free toothpaste for a while, and see if you notice a difference. If by the end of the tube you see no difference…well then you should probably ring up your gp and look for other traitors in your life that could be triggering those ulcers.

Thanks for reading, and keep smiling (unless you haven’t sorted those ulcers out…you don’t want to scare those frogs away)!