In daily life, some people always suffer from frequent oral ulcers, even if they don’t get angry after eating spicy food.The cause may be the use of toothpaste containing SLS.. SLS, whose Chinese name is sodium lauryl sulfate, is a surfactant that allows toothpaste to produce rich foam during brushing, helping to remove food residue, dissolve tartar, plaque and biofilm on teeth, and reduce morning bad breath.
Due to its low cost and strong cleaning ability, it is widely used in many daily products, including toothpaste, shampoo, shower gel, facial cleanser, laundry detergent, hand sanitizer, soap, detergent, etc.
However, some sensitive people may cause contact irritation and physical discomfort after using SLS.The most commonly mentioned side effect is the possibility of inducing or exacerbating oral ulcers.
There is a lipid layer on the surface of the oral mucosa. This layer of material is like a protective film, which can not only maintain the moisture in the oral cavity, but also resist damage to the mucosa by external stimuli.
SLS has strong cleaning properties. While it breaks down grease and assists in cleaning the mouth, it will also destroy this lipid protective layer.
This will lead to the denaturation of oral mucosal proteins, loss of protection of buccal mucosa, gums and other parts, and direct exposure to other ingredients in toothpaste or subsequent food stimulation, thereby causing local inflammation and, in severe cases, oral ulcers.
It may also interfere with saliva secretion, leading to symptoms of dry mouth. When there is insufficient moisture in the mouth, the mucosa will become drier and more fragile, and micro-breakages may easily occur, leading to ulcers.
Multiple studies have confirmed the association between SLS and the aggravation of oral ulcers: For example, a double-blind crossover trial showed that after people who often suffer from oral ulcers switched to SLS-free toothpaste, the ulcer pain was significantly reduced and the healing speed was faster.
Another study found thatToothpaste that does not contain SLS can significantly reduce the number and duration of oral ulcers, and at the same time reduce the pain of ulcers. On the contrary, toothpaste containing SLS will prolong the healing cycle of ulcers and make the pain of ulcers more intense..
It should be noted that SLS is an approved safe daily chemical ingredient. Its content in toothpaste is usually controlled at 0.5%-2%. Most healthy people will not experience discomfort when using it normally.
butIf you are a patient with recurrent oral ulcers or a person with sensitive oral mucosa, it is recommended to give priority to SLS-free toothpaste that uses amino acids as surfactants., reduce risks.
Picture: taken by myself