Cure for Canker Sores
Stop the primary culprit in canker sore formation
The very first thing you need to do if you want to rid yourself of canker sores is throw away your toothpaste. Most commercial toothpastes contain sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS), which is a major culprit in canker sore formation.
Derived from coconut and/or palm kernel oil, SLS is a caustic detergent used in toothpastes, shampoos and some mouthwashes, valued for its thickening effect and its ability to create a lather.
It is suspected that one of the side effects of SLS in toothpaste is that over time it tends to remove mucin, which is a natural protective film in the mouth. This opens the door for canker sores.
Although it is not fully understood, the removal of this natural barrier may make the mouth more susceptible to bacteria or viruses, which might then lead to mouth sores as a defensive response by the immune system.
The best strategy is three pronged:
- Only use SLS-free toothpastes
- Boost the immune system
- Avoid food allergens
There are some good toothpastes available for canker sore prevention that don't have SLS as an ingredient.
I must emphasize that to rid yourself of canker sores, you have to stop using any toothpaste with sodium lauryl sulphate …forever.
That includes some natural toothpastes. Just because it’s natural, doesn’t mean it’s automatically better for you.
Tom’s of Maine is a case in point. They make some excellent products, but they do not make a toothpaste without SLS. Their website refutes the problem with SLS, citing two small studies, and defends its use because,
"...we believe it is the best choice due to its long history of safe use, its lack of odor or taste, and its low level of concentration in our products."
What they’re not telling you is that other companies make toothpastes that work just fine without SLS, and, more importantly perhaps, a toothpaste doesn’t even need to get foamy to be effective.
January, 2008 UPDATE: Tom's of Maine now makes several excellent toothpastes without the dreaded SLS. See our canker sore toothpaste review here.
The foaminess, or lather, from the toothpaste is there to give you the illusion that it’s working better - sort of like soap. We’ve been conditioned to believe that foam = clean.
Some dentists will admit that plain water works just as well for cleaning your teeth. Your toothbrush does all the work through mechanical action.
My dentist related it to shoveling snow off your driveway. You don’t need to put any lathering paste on your shovel to make removing the snow any easier, right?
Boosting the immune system
There is some evidence that mouth sores are caused by or exacerbated by some sort of microorganism. If that's the case, you should do all you can to help your immune system fight off the invaders.
Fortunately there are lots of things you can do to help. This includes eating a well-balanced diet, avoiding junk food, getting plenty of sleep, drinking lots of clean water, exercising regularly and reducing unwanted stress.
Other canker sore suspects
It is also recommended that you stay away from acidic foods or any foods you may be allergic to while you are adjusting to life without your old toothpaste. After a few months, you should be able to introduce foods that may have previously contributed to canker sore formation.
If you're not aware of what foods you could be sensitive to, it's a safe bet to avoid the most common food allergens. Although it’s possible to be allergic to any food, there are eight culprits that reportedly account for 90% of all food-allergic reactions:
- milk
- eggs
- peanuts (which are legumes, not nuts)
- tree nuts (walnuts, cashews, etc.)
- fish
- shellfish (shrimp, crayfish, lobster, crab, etc.)
- soy
- wheat
Acidic foods have also been implicated in formation of mouth ulcers, so it would be wise to avoid pineapple, citrus fruits and cooked tomatoes because of their acidity - at least until the natural balance in your mouth has been restored.
The more accurate way to have food allergy testing done is through your doctor or keep a food diary to see what might be triggering the sores.
Pay particular attention to any foods that cause even minor lip swelling, mouth or throat itching or a runny nose. These could be allergy indicators.
Oddly, sometimes the foods that initiate an allergic response are those foods that we eat often. It seems that the old adage is true: "Variety is the spice of life."
As long as you don't overdo it with offending foods, you should be fine. If you're like me, without SLS in your life you'll be able to eat most anything without getting a canker sore.
My experience with SLS and canker sores
I can tell you from personal experience that SLS contributes to canker sore formation. Anecdotal? No question. So try it for yourself. Dump your commercial toothpaste for one of these SLS-free toothpastes for a few months and watch them disappear. Then, if you dare, go back to your old toothpaste for a few weeks and see what happens. They will return.