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ARTICLES FOR PATIENTS |
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Your
Toothpaste May be Giving you Canker Sores (and bad breath)! |
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Canker sores, also known as "mouth ulcers" plague the lives of
millions of people all over the world. These small oral ulcers
can make life unbearable when eating, drinking, speaking, or
swallowing. Frustration sets in when your dentist or doctor
doesn't know how to respond to your questions about these
annoying and recurring ulcerations.
Unfortunately, the public ends up creating their own "canker
sore" problem, by using commercial toothpastes, which contain an
ingredient that has been proven to be linked to canker sores.
It's called Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), and is placed into
toothpaste (and some mouthwashes) in order to create foaming!
(Sodium Lauryl Sulfate is also the main ingredient in your
shampoo - go check it out.) |
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The harshness of this chemical has been proven to create
microscopic damage to the oral tissue which lines the inside of
your mouth, which then leads to Canker Sores. That's why
TheraBreath Oral Products have never contained Sodium Lauryl
Sulfate!
The Only Group of Oral Products Designed to fight Bad Breath
which do not contain Soap (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate) or Saccharin
is THERABREATH! |
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The
Science of Canker Sores:
For discussions sake, several terms are interchangeable. Canker
Sores are also known as: Mouth Ulcers, Aphthous Ulcers,
Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis, or Oral ulcers.
Some people (and doctors) confuse canker sores with "cold sores"
(fever blisters). We know both are painful, annoying, and
recurring. Here are the major differences: |
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Canker Sores |
Cold Sores |
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Only occur inside the mouth |
Mostly on
outside of mouth - sometimes on the inside of the mouth, but
only on "hard" surfaces (palate) |
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Not Contagious |
Contagious |
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Not Viral (not caused by a virus) |
Caused by Viruses |
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Caused by
damage to oral tissue, often by Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, a
common foaming agent ingredient in almost all toothpastes |
The first sign is appearance of small
blisters (vesicles) |
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What
Causes Canker Sores ( Mouth Ulcers)?
The latest research shows that certain chemical compounds
trigger the production of canker sores. Among those items is
something that may shock unsuspecting people. It's SOAP. Yes,
but it's soap, inside your mouth. For many years the major
pharmaceutical companies have used Soap (chemically known as
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate) in order to create a foaming agent when
one brushes their teeth. The reason? The foam does not provide
any benefits to the toothpaste, but does "fool" the user (YOU)
into thinking that a foaming action is related to a "cleansing"
action. After speaking to many of these pharmaceutical
companies, the following excuse is used: "We use Sodium Lauryl
Sulfate as a surfactant, in order to blend all of our
ingredients together and make them work more effectively." (A
surfactant is a chemical agent, which allows other chemical
molecules to get closer to each other. However, there are many
surfactants out there that are not soapy or do not cause
allergic reactions, resulting in canker sore production."
One of the most exciting advances has been the establishment of
the link between canker sores and an ingredient common to almost
all toothpastes. The additive SLS or sodium lauryl sulfate may
be a culprit in canker sore formation.
SLS ( sodium lauryl sulfate ) acts just like a detergent. It is
used in the laboratory as a membrane destabilizer and
solubilizer of proteins and lipids. SLS is used in toothpaste to
emulsify (mix) oil and water based ingredients together. In your
toothpaste it creates the foam you get when brushing. Since it
is classified as a soap, you will easily understand, why this
ingredient can cause drying inside the mouth for many
individuals. The dryness is one of several factors that will
lead to bad breath.
The thought is that SLS may, in susceptible individuals, cause
microscopic trauma or membrane disruption to the skin cells in
the mouth. This along with trauma or actions of the immune
system may lead to canker sore formation.
Recent studies have shown a link between the use of toothpastes
containing SLS and the occurrence of RAS (canker sores). |
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The
following is a synopsis of 3 European Scientific Studies:
In a study at the University of Oslo in Oslo, Norway, Drs.
Barvoll and Brokstad revealed a 60-70% reduction in the number
of canker sores in patients who used SLS free toothpaste during
the 3 month test period. Additional studies have since shown
equally promising results.
In the clinical studies, patients using SLS toothpaste displayed
a greater amount of desquamation (loss of a layer of skin lining
the inside of the mouth). This has led to the theory that SLS
may contribute to RAS (canker sores) by causing injury to the
oral epithelial cells (skin cells lining the inside of the
mouth).
SLS, by denaturing protective mucus proteins, may also disrupt
the protective layer of mucus which lines the inside of the
mouth (a denatured protein is a protein which has lost its three
dimensional shape thereby becoming nonfunctional and useless).
The denaturing of mucus proteins makes the cells lining the
mouth more susceptible to injury and canker sore formation. |
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References:
1. Herlofson, Bente and Pal Barkvoll Sodium lauryl sulfate and
recurrent aphthous ulcers: A preliminary study Acta Odontol
Scand 1994; 52:257-259
2. Herlofson, Bente and Pal Barkvoll The effect of two
toothpaste detergents on the frequency of recurrent aphthous
ulcers Acta Odontol Scand 1996; 54(3): 150-153
3. Barkvoll, Pal and G. Rolla Possible effects of sodium lauryl
sulfate (SLS) on the oral mucosa [abstract] J Dent Res 1989;
68:991
What has been especially exciting is the fact that many of my
patients have experienced tremendous improvements as a result of
using SLS free toothpaste. Additionally, many of the visitors to
this website have also found canker sore relief by using an SLS
free toothpaste.
Research is being conducted to determine what makes a person
susceptible to canker sores in the first place as well as what
actions and mechanisms trigger canker sore outbreaks. Among
those things that may trigger an attack or make a person more
susceptible are:
A. SLS found in Toothpaste and some mouthwashes
B. Allergies to Food Products and Certain Preservatives
C. Trauma from Brushing your Teeth too vigorously
D. Lip Biting
E. Stress
F. Trauma from Eating Hard, Rough Foods (Potato Chips, Pretzels)
G. Deficiencies in Vitamin B12, iron, and folic acid.
Current theories on the causes of canker sores have focused on
the immune system. This research suggests that canker sores may
be caused by the body's own immune system attacking the cells
lining the inside of the mouth.
The first canker sores usually occur between the ages of 10 and
20. During life, episodes usually, but not always, become less
frequent and less severe. Interestingly, women often report
increased susceptibility to canker sore formation during certain
times of their menstrual cycle. Some women report complete
relief from canker sores during pregnancy.
Interestingly, canker sores ( mouth ulcers ) affect people to
varying degrees of severity. Some people may get an occasional
outbreak of canker sores once or twice a year while others may
suffer near continuous overlapping episodes of canker sores (
mouth ulcers ). |
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On the
Subject of Preventing Canker Sores (Mouth Ulcers):
The most important piece of advice we can give you is to stay
away from toothpaste which contains Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (click
for list).
Secondly, trauma to the inside of the mouth may trigger the
production of canker sores. This trauma includes overzealous
tooth brushing, biting your cheek or tongue, and scraping the
inside of your mouth with hard or sharp foods (like hard
pretzels).
Cut down on eating foods like potato chips, hard pretzels, cut
apples, and hard candies which might nick, abrade, or otherwise
traumatize the oral tissue.
As far as overzealous brushing, most people can not consciously
stop brushing so hard, because tooth brushing is such an
ingrained habit. Consequently, we encourage them to use our
SuperSoft Nylon Toothbrush, made for us by experienced
toothbrush manufacturers in England. It's virtually impossible
to cause damage with these soft, yet strong bristles.
We know that many bite the insides of their cheeks while
sleeping or out of nervousness and stress. We suggest that a
mouth guard be worn during sleep. This is often very effective
at preventing further oral trauma. Contact your dentist for more
information.
Reactions to certain food products may be responsible for many
cases of canker sores. Among the foods that may cause canker
sores in certain people are: nuts, peanut butter, sea food,
wheat products, chocolate, and milk. |
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Treatment of Canker Sores (Mouth Ulcers):
Usually canker sores clear within 7-14 days without treatment.
During this time, however, the canker sores can be painful
especially when people eat or drink. Treatment helps ease the
pain and may help reduce the amount of time it takes for the
ulcers to go away. |
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Other
Viable Treatments:
1.
Anti-Microbial Mouthwashes
Surprisingly the use of anti-microbial mouthwashes has provided
effective relief for many. Canker Sores are not caused by a
bacteria or virus so the mechanisms by which these
anti-microbial mouthwashes work remains unclear. Commonly used
are anti-microbial Oxygenating mouthwashes (TheraBreath Oral
Rinse and PerioTherapy Oral Rinse).
2.
Analgesic (Pain Relieving) and Protective Ointments and Gels:
Your local drug stores stocks some pain relieving medications,
including Zilactin or Oragel. After application, they create a
protective cover over the sensitive areas.
3.
Corticosteroid Rinses and Gels:
These are prescription medications that must be authorized by
your dentist or physician and should only be used for severe or
painful cases. The application of these types of gels and rinses
may be painful at first. The most common is a topical steroid
gel (non-alcoholic) of lidex applied very gently to the ulcer
2-4 times per day. |
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Systemic Conditions Associated with Canker Sores (Mouth Ulcers):
In a very small number of cases, canker sores may be indicative
of a bodily (systemic) disorder. A medical condition known as
Behcet's Disease, for instance, has amongst its symptoms: canker
sores, genital lesions, eye lesions, and dermal afflictions.
Those infected with HIV may also develop "canker sore like"
ulcers.
Some digestive conditions display canker sores as part of their
disorder. These include: Crohn's Disease, Celiac Disease,
Ulcerative Colitis, and gluten hypersensitivity (wheat allergy).
Consult your physician if any of the above sound like they may
be part of your "canker sore" problem. |
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PRODUCTS |
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PerioTherapy Kit
Stops Gum Problems AND Bad Breath. |
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TheraBreath Oral Rinse
The original freshmint oxygenating rinse. |
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AktivOxigen Serum
NEW! - Highly concentrated liquid form of the
AktivOxigen solution. |
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