When cleaning teeth and fighting halitosis, SLS can aggravate cold sores

Any dental health professional will tell you that taking good care of your mouth and minimizing halitosis means brushing your teeth at least twice a day. However, something that may not come up during a routine dental cleaning is that fact that certain chemicals in standard toothpastes can aggravate cold sores.

Research conducted by Fariba Younai, a clinical professor of oral biology at the University of California, Los Angeles, recently found that sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) can increase the likelihood of chronic aphthous ulcers, also known as cold sores, in people with compromised immune systems.

SLS is a surfactant, which is a form of wetting or foaming agent found in common toothpastes. Previous studies have noted that this compound can irritate the walls of the cheeks, gums and undersides of the lips.

Among other products, Younai recommended the use of TheraBreath toothpaste, since it does not contain SLS and therefore does not have the same potential to encourage chronic cold sores on the gums and lips.

Using this product with an SLS-free specialty breath freshening rinse that neutralizes odor molecules may significantly reduce your bad breath without irritating the skin of the palate and gums.