Is Cocamidopropyl Betaine in Toothpaste Better Than Sodium Lauryl Sulfate?

For these with recurrent canker sores, is it higher to make use of a toothpaste with SLS, CAPB, or no foaming brokers in any respect?

Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) had already been used as a foaming agent in toothpastes for greater than a half-century by the point a research was revealed showing tissue injury in most of those that had it smeared on their gums—however that was “most” of solely ten research topics. Same with a research finding a dramatic lower in the variety of canker sores when individuals switched to an SLS-free toothpaste. (Again, simply ten individuals.)

But, that’s all we had till 1999, when a randomized, double-blind, crossover trial was published, testing SLS in opposition to non-SLS toothpaste in not simply 10 individuals, however 47 individuals, with recurrent canker sores. The research regarded on the variety of days of struggling, complete ache, variety of ulcers, how lengthy they lasted, and the way huge they have been, and no important variations have been famous. It didn’t appear to matter whether or not the toothpaste had sodium lauryl sulfate or not. But what about that research showing the 70 % lower in canker sores after switching to an SLS-free toothpaste? Well, perhaps these circumstances were worse and the kind of toothpaste used solely issues if in case you have actually unhealthy canker sores?

That’s the place the science ended till 13 years later when Korean researchers picked up the torch. We had research displaying SLS-free toothpaste helps and different research discovering no profit, resulting in “considerable controversy,” so that they launched the largest research thus far with 90 topics. What did they discover? The identical variety of ulcers and ulcer episodes among the many teams, however the length the ulcers lasted and common ache rating have been considerably decreased when topics have been utilizing the SLS-free toothpaste. So, the researchers concluded that switching to an SLS-free toothpaste might not cut back the variety of canker sores you get, however it could enable them to heal quicker and make them much less painful. 

So, sure, sodium lauryl sulfate “creates an impression of cleanliness, and a mouthful of foam ‘just feels cleaner,’” however the potential draw back could also be that “SLS reduces the protective barrier of the oral epithelium,” our mouth lining, in all probability as a result of rupture of the bonds that maintain our cells collectively. This can generally trigger sloughing, ulcerations, and irritation that dry out the protecting mucous layer lining our mouth, making us extra weak to irritants. 

Hold on. How did the Korean researchers clarify that their research discovered an issue, however the earlier research didn’t? They recommended it could possibly be a race difficulty. Really? Well, they defined that “Koreans eat more hot and spicy food,” so perhaps that makes a distinction?

Regardless of how spicy you want your meals, should you get canker sores, you could wish to give an SLS-free toothpaste a attempt to see if it makes any distinction for you—however non-SLS toothpaste could have different detergents, mostly cocamidopropyl betaine (CAPB). As I focus on in my video, Is CAPD in SLS-Free Toothpaste Any Better? Swiss researchers took 9 toothpastes, together with Colgate, Crest, Oral-B, and Sensodyne, and dripped them on some human gum cells taken recent from individuals who had their knowledge enamel extracted. They then used live-dead cell staining: All the cells have been dyed inexperienced, after which a purple dye was added that covers up the inexperienced dye, however solely in lifeless cells, as a result of the dwell cells actively pump out the purple dye. So, the dwell cells keep inexperienced, however the lifeless cells flip purple. As you may see at 3:25 in my video, Colgate contains SLS as a result of the cells are all purple and all lifeless. And Crest? The cells are largely purple and largely lifeless. But with SLS-free Sensodyne, the cells are all inexperienced and all alive as a result of it comprises the SLS-free detergent CAPB as a substitute.

But that was in a petri dish. Does that translate out into precise tissue injury in individuals? A double-blind crossover research of SLS-containing toothpastes versus CAPB-containing toothpastes discovered 42 desquamative reactions, that means tissue peeling reactions, after 4 days of 4 minutes a day of the SLS toothpaste on topics’ gums, in comparison with simply three reactions with the alternate detergent, CAPB. And there have been no such reactions in any respect utilizing the very same toothpaste with no SLS or CAPB in any respect—detergent-free toothpaste.  

How does this translate out into canker sore frequency? A randomized, double-blind, crossover research investigated the impact of toothpastes containing SLS, CAPB, or no detergent in any respect. The researchers discovered “significantly higher frequency” of canker sores when sufferers brushed with SLS-containing toothpastes quite than with non-SLS toothpastes, whether or not CAPB-containing or detergent-free, so that they recommend that an “SLS-free toothpaste may thus be recommended for patients with recurrent aphthous ulcers,” canker sores. But, as you may see at 5:00 in my video, they discovered extra than simply that.

Yes, SLS was the worst, however the detergent-free, non-foaming toothpaste beat out each SLS and CAPB. Indeed, the non-foaming toothpaste brought about considerably fewer ulcers than the non-SLS different detergent, CAPB, which in flip brought about considerably fewer ulcers than the SLS toothpaste. So, the overwhelming majority of recurrent canker sore sufferers would profit by switching from an everyday toothpaste to a non-foaming toothpaste, however most would profit by staying away from SLS regardless. 

But in case your toothpaste doesn’t have sodium lauryl sulfate, will it work as nicely? I’m not simply speaking about “the impression of cleanliness,” however precise impact on plaque and gingivitis? SLS might kill our cells, however it additionally kills micro organism, so is it potential an SLS-free toothpaste gained’t work as nicely? It seems that SLS-free toothpaste works simply as nicely “with regard to reducing gingivitis and plaque,” so we will suggest it for these with recurrent canker sores. Sodium lauryl sulfate might make issues worse by disintegrating the protecting mucus layer and ultimately penetrating into the deeper layers of the liner of our mouths, the place “living tissue function may be compromised.”

Folks did miss the foaminess, although, of a toothpaste with SLS. There is one extra profit to selecting SLS-free toothpaste: SLS additionally penetrates into our tongue and “interferes with the inner mechanisms of our taste cells.” It’s really accountable for the “orange juice effect.” You know that bizarre style you get from citrus proper after you sweep your enamel? SLS is evidently what’s mucking along with your style cells.

Sodium lauryl sulfate? Wasn’t that a part of some web hoax? I cowl the background of that in my video Is Sodium Lauryl Sulfate Safe?.

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In well being,

Michael Greger, M.D.

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