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submitted 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) by xapr to c/youshouldknow@lemmy.world

I learned about this many years ago and the difference after I started using only SLS-free toothpaste was night and day. I used to get canker sores (mouth ulcers) any time I would bite the inside of my cheek, hit my gums with the hard parts of my toothbrush, etc., and this completely stopped a while after I switched to SLS-free.

SLS is Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, by the way, and it's a detergent. From what I understand, the only reason why it's added to toothpaste is to make more foam when you brush. But the SLS-free toothpaste I use makes plenty of foam, so I have no idea why they add it. It's one of those things about the modern world that makes absolutely no sense. The ads and packaging should say in big letters: "now with even more canker sores!"

Unfortunately, the vast majority of toothpastes on the market (at least in the US) have SLS. I can only seem to find SLS-free toothpaste in natural food/supplement stores. It's extra difficult to find toothpastes that are SLS-free but that keep fluoride too. The difficulty (and price? I haven't compared) is completely worth it to me though.

TL;DR: The SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate) in most toothpastes is unnecessary and (edit: CAN cause) canker sores (painful sores in your mouth and gums). If you have this problem, you will likely benefit from SLS-free toothpaste (some still include fluoride) that you can usually find at natural food stores.

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[-] USSMojave@startrek.website 15 points 1 year ago

Also make sure you choose a toothpaste that has stannous fluoride and not sodium fluoride. It's much more effective

[-] silentknyght@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago
[-] USSMojave@startrek.website 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)
[-] silentknyght@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Interesting. The back of a tube of sensodyne in my medicine cabinet right now says that stannous fluoride may stain teeth. Hard to understand why a 2013 article would contradict a 2023 toothpaste warning.

[-] USSMojave@startrek.website 1 points 1 year ago

My sensodyne toothpaste also says that but then right below there it says "this product is specially formulated to help prevent staining" so 🤷

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this post was submitted on 22 Nov 2023
328 points (92.7% liked)

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