SLS-free toothpaste

brook2jack

Dentists are the experts in oral medicine, doctors get a tiny amount of training for mouth problems. Best to make appt with the dentist.

Ben84

Toothsmith wrote: »

There are also many scare stories on the internet about SLS.

These are almost certainly untrue, but some do over-react to them. As Brook said though, an increase in oral ulceration in sensitive people is a known and documented side-effect.

I have seen some scare stories, which I don't really believe.

SLS does however seem to be a fairly common irritating ingredient in many products. I did not realise SLS was a bad choice for me for a long time due to it being so widely used. Until quite recently I don't believe I'd ever used a SLS free shampoo or face wash. The difference when I did was huge. Anyone with skin or hair/scalp problems may benefit from avoiding it for a while to see if it makes a difference.

straggler

I bought some toothpaste from Aldi. This doesn't contain SLS but it does contain Sodium Olefin Sulfonate. I'm told this is an alternative to SLS and is still a potential irritant but less so than SLS. Is this correct?

brook2jack

There are many potential irritants in toothpaste SLs, cinnamon and benzoates being common triggers for many. Olefin sulphates are a less irritant substitute but still a possible irritant. All you can do is try to eliminate each one in order to see if they improve things.

However it is important you see a dentist in case there is another reason for your ulcers.

straggler

I bought a few tubes of Aldi toothpaste and the results have been pretty good so far. I've had no ulcers for about two months. I know this is not statistically significant and could just be a coincidence but will stick with it to see what happens long-term.

And it's very cheap so good result all round!

thehappybutterfly

The reason I'm now using sls-free toothpaste is because my old favourite C******e was hurting my mouth - lips, gums etc. I was using smaller and smaller amounts until there was barely a scrape of toothpaste on the brush! I've tried 2 or 3 now and currently it's Aldi's sensitive. Does anyone know if the whitening version I sls-free?


And at 59p for a huge tube I'm delighted!

Toothsmith

I don't know off hand. I would suspect it isn't. But you can see on the ingredients on the box before you buy anything.

It could be any of the things in the toothpaste that is causing the reaction you describe. Not just SLS. So I would stick with simpler toothpastes rather than the more chemical rich ones. Sensodyne Pronamel is one I quire like - and that is SLS free too

thehappybutterfly

What about toothpaste aimed at kids toothsmith? Are they any good for adults? I quite fancy brushing with bubblegum flavour toothpaste!

thehappybutterfly

Just checked the whitening stuff - no mention of sls. Why do they make the text so small? Grrr.

Toothsmith

thehappybutterfly wrote: »

What about toothpaste aimed at kids toothsmith? Are they any good for adults? I quite fancy brushing with bubblegum flavour toothpaste!

'Bubblegum flavour' is yet another batch of chemicals that might cause a reaction.

Some kids toothpastes have a lower fluoride level too. (Which isn't good from the dental health point of view). I rarely recommend kids toothpastes - even for kids!