SLS-free toothpastes?

May 1, 2005 11:14 AM

Sodium lauryl sulfate, an ingredient in most toothpastes, gives me canker sores. But most SLS-free toothpastes are also fluoride-free, which I don't want. Are there any good fluoridated toothpastes, preferably natural, without SLS? The only one I know of is Rembrandt canker sore formula, which I'm sick of.
posted by 88robots to Health & Fitness (21 answers total)

Arm & Hammer's "Advance White" for sensitive teeth has fluoride. It's what I've been using for maybe a year for the reason you stated. I usually need to search diligently to find it. Only the 'for sensitive teeth' sub-brand is SLS-free .
I'm still not tired of it and my dentist okayed it for continuous use ( there's a warning not to use for longer than 4 weeks).
posted by Hobgoblin at 11:24 AM on May 1, 2005

Or what about using a SLS-free, fluoride-free toothpaste (like this yummy one) followed by a fluoride mouthwash (like this one)?
posted by teg at 11:27 AM on May 1, 2005

isn't there floride in your drinking water?
posted by delmoi at 11:31 AM on May 1, 2005

I use Biotene. It says that it's for dry mouth. I don't have dry mouth, but my hygenist said that it's good to use because it is very gentle on your gums and is very good for sensitive teeth, which I do have. It tastes weird compared to normal toothpaste, but you get used to it.
posted by krisobi at 11:42 AM on May 1, 2005

I also use Biotene. I've used CloSYS II before, but it tasted fairly weird (Like Chlorine, not so coincidentally..). I've heard very good things about Squigle Enamel Saver toothpaste, but not tried it.

Is the Rembrandt stuff working for your canker sores?
I switched to SLS-free stuff due to canker sores, and it didn't really help. Debacterol (http://www.debacterol.com/db_descr.html ) is the first thing I've seen (and used) that actually works for me. If you catch them early enough, it involves a 5-10 second application, and then no more canker sore. I got some applicators from a dentist friend of mine. The company is trying to get FDA approval for over-the-counter use, though I'm not sure how well that's going.

Good luck!
posted by sirion at 12:12 PM on May 1, 2005

The Natural Dentist has a SLS-free toothpaste that also has fluoride. It tastes a bit weird, but you can get used to it. Yes, sodium lauryl sulfate is nasty stuff. You might also want to check out Aubrey Organics for SLS-free shampoos, conditioners, etc.
posted by crapulent at 1:28 PM on May 1, 2005

I switched to SLS-free stuff due to canker sores, and it didn't really help.

For myself, I can't say that it's prevented them, but I think that it's made them less frequent. Additionally, when I started buying SLS-free toothpaste, my wife started using it, and says that switching back to regular prompted a sore to develop. I think that was only one time, though, so it could easily be a coincidence.
posted by claxton6 at 2:21 PM on May 1, 2005

I use Tom's of Maine Natural Toothpaste with Fluoride. It uses sodium monofluorophosphate instead of SLS. My girlfriend had to switch to it because of canker sores, and it seems to be better for her.
posted by goatdog at 3:33 PM on May 1, 2005

Actually, the Tom's of Maine toothpaste linked above uses sodium monofluorophosphate instead of sodium fluoride. It does contain sodium lauryl sulfate as its dispersant, though.
posted by 88robots at 6:05 PM on May 1, 2005

Another vote for Biotene, which, although expensive, is worth every penny. My gingivitis completely reversed after using this toothpaste. And my teeth don't bleed when I brush anymore!
posted by nprigoda at 7:46 PM on May 1, 2005

It is VERY difficult to find SLS free toothpast. I use Biotene sometimes but I don't really like it all that much (I prefer the Rembrandt - though both are quite runny). Arm & Hammer Breath Care (or something like that) didn't have SLS but I haven't seen it anywhere in a number of months and don't know if it had flouride.

As a side note, whn I've looked at Tom's of Maine in the store it's always had SLS in it but maybe they have a flavor or style that doesn't.
posted by aaronh at 8:00 PM on May 1, 2005

you could try brushing with baking soda...maybe not very appealing but I doubt it has SLS ;)
posted by jacobsee at 8:06 PM on May 1, 2005

I switched to Tom's of Maine a several months ago and even though it does have SLS in it, my canker sores are about a tenth as bad as they were before I moved over. I can bite my cheek and get only small sores that I don't notice. You might still want to give them a try, even though the ingredient is in there.
posted by Schismatic at 8:57 PM on May 1, 2005

Correct me if I'm wrong, but can't you use a Sonicare-like toothbrush with little or no toothpaste?
posted by bh at 9:52 PM on May 1, 2005

As I understand it, you get many/most of the benefits of toothbrushing even if you use no toothpaste at all, even with a normal toothbrush. Could be wrong, of course.
posted by hattifattener at 10:26 PM on May 1, 2005

You could try finding Jason toothpaste (link goes to one of the many online carriers, they don't seem to have their own website). My housemate is trying to avoid SLS as well as she really enjoys their products. Do look at the packaging if you can find it in a local store because some of their stuff will have SMS instead, which might also be a trigger for you. They seem to have several fluoride-included products.
posted by nelleish at 10:33 PM on May 1, 2005

you could try brushing with baking soda...maybe not very appealing but I doubt it has SLS ;)

It also doesn't have fluoride, which is what 88robots was asking about.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 9:47 AM on May 2, 2005

good point....check out Arm & Hammer Tooth powder:

http://myoralcare.com/questions/

"all of our products are formulated with levels of fluoride specified for an anti-caries (anti-cavity) toothpaste by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)."

"Our ARM & HAMMER DENTAL CARE® Tooth Powder contains no SLS."

I've used this and found that it leaves me feeling quite refreshed. Though sometimes it takes two brushings for some reason.
posted by jacobsee at 12:07 PM on May 2, 2005

Also you could use a floride rinse (Like ACT), which will keep you covered in terms of cavities far better than a floridated toothpaste
posted by sirion at 5:19 PM on May 2, 2005

for what it's worth, here's the Tom's of Maine page about SLS
posted by jacobsee at 12:24 PM on May 5, 2005

There is a toothpaste out called verve ultra that is SLS-free and does contain fluoride. It is a gel, and tastes pretty good (I don't think you would know it's SLS free from the taste).
posted by LoveSmithy at 2:47 PM on April 8, 2006