Sodium Lauryl Sulfate Toothpaste Side Effects
In toothpaste, there are a number of ingredients that ensure your mouth feels clean and fresh. They also help to eliminate stains, slow tooth decay and improve bad breath.
Remineralizing components are present in many toothpastes to help strengthen enamel. Some of them can be very abrasive so it’s important to know what one is best for you and your teeth.
Fluoride
Fluoride can help enhance your oral health and protect against cavities. Fluoride can be found in the soil, water, and foods. You can add it to toothpaste or water supplies to meet a variety of needs.
Its most important function is to stop tooth decay by “remineralizing” teeth, helping to bond enamel to places of decay, and also attracting the strengthening minerals, such as calcium towards the area of injury. This process creates a new hard, stronger, and more resistant enamel known as fluorapatite, which is more resistant to acid and bacteria.
That’s why the American Dental Association recommends brushing with fluoride toothpaste at least two times a day. Your dentist could recommend fluoride varnishes and gels to provide additional protection.
Toothbrushes with fluoride are available in an array of strengths, with most commercial brands possessing at minimum 1,000 parts per million of fluoride (i.e. 0.221% sodium fluoride or 0.76% sodium monofluorophosphate).
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that kids use a toothpaste that has at least 1000ppm fluoride. The toothpaste should be used as the form of a “smear” with a tiny brush to reduce the chance of swallowing, and it is recommended to tilt it slightly downwards so that excess paste dribbles out of the mouth instead of into the throat.
In the long run, however, too much fluoride could cause a problem known as fluorosis. It causes spots or white streaks on the teeth, and even gastrointestinal problems in children who swallow large amounts of toothpaste containing fluoride. The fluoride is also known to trigger increased inflammation as well as altering the neurodevelopment of animals as well as humans.
SLS
SLS, or sodium lauryl sulfurate, is a common ingredient found in a variety of personal and cleaning hygiene products. It can be derived from natural or petroleum sources such as palm and coconut oil.
In order to remove food and plaque particles that are stuck to your teeth, SLS foaming agents are utilized in toothpastes. It also helps make the molecules in the toothpaste more slippery, allowing them to get deeper into the tiny spaces between your gums and your teeth.
There are, however, plenty of non-sLS toothpastes on the market that can still do an excellent job at removing debris and plaque from your teeth, without the addition of this chemical. They don’t cause irritation or discomfort when you brush and will also help to maintain your fresh breath.
A further concern with SLS is the possibility of it irritate your mouth, especially the lips’ skin and tongue. SLS may slough off or peel away the outer layers of skin cells within the mouth, making it prone to infection.
Additionally, it can dry out the inside of your mouth and disrupt the delicate balance of bacteria that is in your mouth. This can lead to bad breath, as well as dental health issues. That’s why dentists suggest using SLS-free toothpastes.
Additionally, it can affect the fluoride’s effectiveness, that can decrease its efficacy and cause your teeth to be more vulnerable to tooth decay. SLS may also inhibit some toothpastes’ whitening effects. SLS can cause irritation so be sure to select toothpaste made with an hygienic and safe alternative such as Quillaja triterpenic Saponins , or Decyl Glucoside.
Sodium Hydroxide
Sodium hydroxideis also known as Lye (used in the making of soap) or caustic soda, is a powerful cleansing agent that is used in toothpastes to neutralize acid and keep plaque from mineralising into calculus. It may dry the mouth, and cause irritation.
Fluoride, commonly found in very low levels in toothpastes , to help strengthen and stop tooth decay is the primary ingredient. It is absorbed gradually and over time and is a remineralising agent which helps to repair damaged areas of the surface of the teeth and protect against the tooth from becoming sensitive due to decay.
In toothpaste, it’s used in combination with other components like silica hydrated to remove the stains and plaque that are superficial to the teeth. It’s also a moderate Abrasive that is not as damaging to the enamel and dentin as compared to other abrasives.
This antiseptic helps to prevent and combat gum illness. The foaming agent improves toothpaste’s cleaning power.
Other fluoride-containing ingredients which may be found in toothpaste to boost its effectiveness and help to keep teeth in good shape. To provide protection from cavities, toothpastes for children and adults may be made up of sodium monofluorophosphate and stannous fluoride.
Synthetic colors are commonly added to make toothpaste white, and are also used to give flavour. Though they’re not harmful but some artificial colours, such as yellow #5 have been implicated in hyperactivity and anxiety in children.
As well as sorbitol and parabens, these are components you should avoid. They are all known to interfere with hormones, and they can build up in the body and cause problems.
Instead of using such products instead, you can utilize natural sweeteners, such as Stevia or xylitol. It is a sugar alcohol that naturally occurs in the body, has been found to prevent tooth decay and increase saliva. Additionally, it can help decrease bacteria levels.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
The sodium lauryl sulfate or SLS in short, is one of the main ingredients used in toothpaste as well as other products for personal care. It can be manufactured synthetically or naturally and gives numerous products a foamy bubbled consistency.
It’s a surfactant which decreases the water-oil’s surface tension to aid in bonding and lifting particles such as dirt and grease. SLS can also help make foaming products, which makes it easier for users to put the products all over their mouths.
For toothpaste, SLS is used because it helps to emulsify proteins and fats in toothpastes. This helps to break down plaque and prevent the formation of stains on teeth. SLS also contains antibacterial qualities which reduce the chance of developing cavities and gingivitis.
It’s a soap that is foamy and assists to create toothpaste that lathers more effectively. Because it helps to eliminate irritants and makes it easier to clean your teeth, it’s an ingredient that is used in foaming toothpaste and mouthwash.
SLS can cause skin irritation especially if it is used for prolonged periods. SLS can be irritating for those with sensitive skin and patients suffering from rosacea (an skin condition of inflammation which results in redness, swelling, itching and other manifestations).
SLS has been linked to an increased risk of throat and oral cancers. These assertions aren’t supported with scientific research, however they’ve been widely discussed through the web.
Peppermint
Peppermint is the go-to scent of the season and has been widely used in toothpaste. The herb’s properties for freshening breath and cooling sensation, paired with its unique scent make it the ideal flavor for toothpaste.
The peppermint’s menthol is responsible for the refreshing, cool sensation it provides. Menthol is an antibacterial ingredient that helps fight harmful bacteria and reduces bad breath.
Along with its ability to freshen breath it also triggers your sensory receptors inside the mouth as well as on your skin. This can cause an icy sensation. It is an ideal option if you’re looking to maintain your gums and teeth healthy. It is a great way to improve enamel strength, and help prevent decay.
Bob Vogt (Colgate senior flavorist) Bob Vogt (Colgate senior flavorist) says peppermint is a popular choice because of its “slightly sweet flavor” and “lingering cooling sensation”. It can also help mask any off flavors of other ingredients.
Mint oil was used historically as a medicinal and therapeutic ingredient. Mint oil is among the most popular flavors used in oral rinses and toothpastes of today. It’s easy to see why: Mint is a common easy-to-find plant that grows in most regions of the globe.
The breath freshening and odor-reducing properties makes it an excellent option for toothpaste. However, the menthol component also has antibacterial, antioxidant and other properties that can help fight plaque, gingivitis and bad breath. It’s also an excellent choice for toothpaste for kids, as it can help to prevent tooth decay.
The peppermint toothpaste is an excellent alternative if you’re looking for toothpastes that do not contain fluoride or sodium lauryl sulfate. They’ll provide the same breath-freshening characteristics and whitening capabilities but without any of the harmful ingredients found in other toothpastes.