Posted in Health, Health Archive | Tuesday, May 4th, 2010
In my post “My Health Turning Point” I linked to a video regarding the dangers of Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS). I also went into more detail about SLS in “Why I Don’t Shampoo My Hair: Pt.1″.
So I was really surprised when I was brushing my teeth one day and I flipped over my Tom’s of Maine peppermint toothpaste and read that Sodium Lauryl Sulfate is one of the ingredients!
I spit it out and ran to my laptop.
Apparently, SLS is used in toothpaste for the same reasons it’s in soap, shampoo, and car de-greasers.
Suds.
We are used to the sudsing action of toothpaste to get our teeth clean, and the ability of those suds to carry food and debris out of our mouth when we brush. SLS is used in toothpaste to emulsify (mix) oil and water based ingredients together.
If putting SLS on your skin is bad, putting it in your mouth is even worse. Apparently, the leading cause of canker sores is SLS in toothpaste. The same way SLS removes grease from car engines and oils from your hair and scalp, it also causes the membranes of the mouth to dry out by removing the oils from the inside of the cheeks, lips and corners of your mouth. (Causing cracked, chapped lips as well). As a xenoestrogen SLS can also be absorbed into the skin inside your mouth and mimic estrogen in your body as well.
A quick/cheap way to clean and whiten your teeth is to mix water, a capful of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda until they make a thick paste. Then dip your toothpaste in and brush away!
There are also several sulfate-free toothpastes on the market today that weren’t around years ago. There are three of them in the Savvy Shop right now! (see link below) I will be doing a review of a few of a couple of those toothpastes soon. PLUS. I’m still researching how to MAKE my own!
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Funny, I did the same thing. More and more we are being educated on how important being a label reader is. Right now, I LURB Burt’s Bees SLS-free multicare toothpaste.
@MandiFran thank you! I didn’t know Burt’s Bees had one too!
See? Now you’re scaring me. I can’t use my Crest toothpaste now?? Oy vey!
Hi Savvy,
I had no idea about the SLS in Toms toothpaste! I use it as well. I’m gonna be on the look-out for safer one. Maybe I’ll try the Toms.
Now see when I was out shopping yesterday something told me to get some peroxide and I didn’t. And I just bought a double pack of toothpaste.
Wow! Thanks for the information, I have used the peroxide/baking soda mix for occassional whitening but didn’t think it was safe for everyday use. I will have to do more research.
@Sheriann Kiss My Face makes sulfate-free toothpaste, there’s some in the Savvy Shop here.
I switched toothpaste also once I saw the SLS in the ingredients! However, I did not know SLS caused canker sores!!! Thanks for the convo!
Yeah I noticed that one day too and it caught me by surprise! I thought about purchasing Tom but noticed that it has sulfates too
… I will eventually switch from commercial sulfates to a nonsulfate one…
Nature’s Gate doesn’t have sls.
@Victoria Really? I will check them out. Thx!