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What is SLS in Toothpaste ?

what is sls in toothpaste

 

Daily tooth brushing is an essential component of good healthcare thus it is also important to understand your toothpaste ingredients. People know fluoride plays a vital role because it defends the teeth against cavity development. Toothpaste includes active ingredients that both whiten teeth and offer sensitivity relief and freshen breath along with many other components. In this article, we will explores the toothpaste ingredient called Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and how it impact on our oral health.

What is Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)?

SLS functions as a surfactant in the toothpaste because it have ability to lower surface tension to help clean teeth. Additionally, SLS enables foaming within multiple household products.

What is SLS in Toothpaste?

Toothpaste manufacturers commonly use Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) because the surfactant effectively creates foam that enhances several functions. The foam created by SLS assists in the removal of food debris along with your tooth brushing and enables active ingredients such as fluoride to contact teeth. SLS functions as an agent that lifts dental plaque while creating a clean sensation. The presence of SLS means your toothpaste forms foam. Thus many toothpastes containing foam may contain this substance.

Why People Should Avoid Toothpaste with Sodium Lauryl Sulfate

Sodium lauryl sulfate also called sodium dodecyl sulfate or SLS, appears frequently in toothpaste formulations as a surfactant. Sodium lauryl sulfate acts as a soapy material in products. You might be curious about toothpaste soap but manufacturers use it to create toothpaste thickness while generating foam against dental plaque during brushing.  For manufacturing entities, this component’s affordability enables simple toothpaste creations.

Sodium lauryl sulfate provides various advantages for toothpaste manufacturing yet these benefits raise sufficient concerns about its use so looking for SLS-free toothpaste remains the best brushing option.

What are the Problems with Toothpaste Containing SLS

Lab tests revealed that a rise in sodium lauryl sulfate amounts directly decreased the amount of alkali-soluble fluoride which appeared on tooth enamel.  The dentifrice industry operates within a concentration range of 0.5-2.0% concerning their products.  The main benefit of tooth brushing is fluoride delivery to the teeth and sodium lauryl sulfate disrupts this essential process that renders toothpaste ineffective.

Scientific findings confirm that exposure to sodium lauryl sulfate causes aphthous ulcers to become more common – This effect arises when SLS denatures the mucin layer thus making underlying epithelium accessible which leads to higher numbers of recurrent aphthous ulcers. 

Should I Change My Toothpaste?

The best toothpaste choice for maintaining oral health requires selection of sodium lauryl sulfate-free products that eliminate potential risks. You will find multiple Sensodyne toothpaste that do not include SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate). Sensodyne toothpaste includes either potassium nitrate or stannous fluoride as its active sensitivity relief ingredients. Potassium nitrate helps calm tooth nerves while stannous fluoride creates a defensive shield that protects the sensitive dentin tissue. The Sensodyne toothpaste line offers solutions for sensitive dentition together with details about products that lack SLS.

The use of Invisalign clear aligners also helps support both oral health and dental hygiene. Invisalign stands out as a clear, effective solution to regular braces because it provides convenient comfort for people who want to enhance their smile.

Make sure to consult with a dentist about choosing a toothpaste that works best for you and your sensitive teeth. Choose Celebrate Dental for your oral health consultation and Invisalign treatment as we assist patients in getting both healthy and attractive smiles.

Schedule an appointment now!

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Dr. Ensley