Canker Sores (Aphthous Ulcers)
The annoying little ulcers that bother you from time to time are commonly called "canker sores". Their official name is Recurrent Aphthous Ulcers (RAU). This problem is displayed by repeated episodes of oval/round ulcerations with a reddish halo. They occur on the soft tissues of the mouth, i.e. tongue, under the tongue, soft palate, and inside cheek.
The cause of RAU is vague. Even today no single cause has been identified. It is likely that it's the product of local, systemic and immunologic factors as well as other precipitating factors like: specific foods, trauma, stress, hormones, heredity and certain ingredients found in toothpastes. A study was conducted on recurrent aphthous ulcers and toothpastes containing the ingredient Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (a foaming agent). The study found patients who used the toothpaste containing Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) had significantly more aphthous ulcers (14.1 ulcers) compared to those who used a toothpaste that did not contain this ingredient (5.1 ulcers).
RAU affects 50-60% of the population, however, its frequency and severity decrease with age. Most people get a form of RAU which feature 1-2 small ulcers. These will heal in less than 2 weeks if untreated. However, there is more evidence that there are treatments that can increase healing and decrease incidence. To address this problem we suggest avoiding toothpastes with Sodium Lauryl Sulfate.
Once a lesion appears, the use of corticosteroids can be helpful. A product like Kenolog with Orabase combines a corticosteroid with a medium that adheres to wet oral tissues. This is a prescription item. Another useful agent is Peridex, a strong antibacterial mouth wash. It seems especially useful for those patients that get one ulcer after another for months. Peridex usage seems to be able to break this cycle. Peridex is also a prescription treatment.
The following is a list of toothpastes that DO NOT contain SLS.
Sensitive Toothpastes Regular Toothpastes
* Oral-B Sensitive Toothpaste * Arm & Hammer Dental Care Tooth Powder
* Promise Sensitive Toothpaste * Biotene Dry Mouth Toothpaste
* Sensodyne Original Toothpaste * Oral-B Tooth and Gum Care
for Sensitive Teeth * Triple Sodium Fluoride with Baking Soda &
* Sensodyne Cool Gel for Sensitive Peroxide Paste
Teeth & Cavity Prevention
Desensitizing Dentifrice
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