Relation Between Canker Sores And Sodium Lauryl Sulfate In Toothpastes!

Canker sores are usually seen on inside of the lips, inside of the cheeks, under the tongue, on the palate, and base of gums.

These sores are usually white or yellow in color surrounded by red color.

Canker sores are painful, open, small, and shallow sore in the mouth.

It is also known as aphthous stomatitis or mouth ulcer. These sores are caused by breakage of the mucous membranes.

One in five people are suffering from these canker sores. These small mouth ulcers will make life intolerable while eating, drinking, swallowing, speaking, etc.

According to the researches, the things that make the person liable for canker sores are:

  • Sodium lauryl sulfate that can be find in toothpastes and mouthwashes
  • Trauma from hard brushing
  • Food products and preservative allergies
  • Lip biting
  • Stress
  • Trauma when eating rough and hard foods
  • B12 Vitamin, folic acid, and iron deficiencies

Usually, use of commercial toothpastes and some mouthwashes that contain sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), a foaming agent, can cause canker sores. This foam has no benefits to the toothpaste, but it does trick the people in order to think that foaming is related to cleansing action.

Although the exact cause of canker sores is not known, sodium lauryl sulfate has been proved to be one of the causes of these sores. The harshness of this ingredient causes damage to the oral tissue and leads to sores inside the mouth.

The recent researches established the link between the canker sores and the common ingredients like sodium lauryl sulfate used in nearly all toothpastes. So, it has been clear that the sodium lauryl sulfate is a culprit in formation of canker sores.

Sodium lauryl sulfate denatures the protective mucus proteins and disrupts the protective layer of the mucus. The denaturing of these mucus proteins makes the mouth vulnerable to canker sores.

A research by one of the Universities in Europe revealed that 65-70% reduction in canker sores in those people who used sodium lauryl sulfate free toothpastes during the testing period of three months.

Thus, avoid those toothpastes, which contain sodium lauryl sulfate as ingredient. Before buying any toothpaste, check out if it contain sodium lauryl sulfate.

Trauma to the inside of the mouth may also trigger the formation of canker sores. Doing simple things may cause trauma in the mouth. It is advised for the people to look for those things that cause trauma, such as hard brushing, biting cheeks or tongue, food trauma (eating hard or rough food), ill-fitting dentures or braces, and some dental procedures.

So, it is better to avoid those things, which cause trauma by using smooth nylon toothbrushes for brushing, avoiding eating hard foods, using standard mouth guards, etc.

Stress is also a part of causing canker sores. Thus, try to reduce the stress and be safe from these sores. Reducing stress also improves the overall health.

If the canker sores are large and sore and last longer than two weeks then making an appointment with family doctor has been advised.