Is sls in toothpaste harmful?

If you’ve ever read the ingredients on a tube of toothpaste, then it’s likely that you’ve come across sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS). This ingredient is known for its ability to create foam and suds, which gives us the satisfying sensation of feeling like our teeth are getting cleaner than they really are. But have you ever stopped to wonder whether this ingredient might actually be harmful? Well, wonder no more because we’re about to explore everything there is to know about SLS.

What is SLS?

Let’s start with some basics: what exactly is this mysterious ingredient? Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) is a type of surfactant that can be found in many personal care products like toothpaste, shampoo, and soap. Its main function is as a detergent – it helps break down oils and dirt so they can be easily washed away.

Nowadays though, people seem more concerned with raising alarms over every little thing rather than taking things at face value. According to internet rumor mills estabilished by conspiracy theorists – everything will give you cancer eventually: from walking outside without any sunscreen / rubber clothing and breathing bovine flatulence powered air through overused duct systems post-cleaning or taking pictures with your mobile phone while using non-organic kale facial masks when doing your weekly grocery shopping trips.

But anyway…let’s talk about something that isn’t based solely on rumors: how does Sodium Lauryl Sulphate actually affect human beings?

The Debate Over Safety

There has been quite a bit of debate over the safety of using SLS in personal care products such as toothpaste. On one hand, some people claim that long-term exposure could lead to health issues such as cancer or skin irritation because it may contain traces amount of 1,4-dioxane which often gets produced during manufacturing processes involving ethoxylation.

On the other hand, however, most scientific studies have found that SLS is safe for use in personal care products at current levels. The American Dental Association (ADA), for example, has concluded that there is no evidence linking SLS to cancer or any other serious health problems. In fact according to their website: “The safety of SLES and Sodium Lauryl Sulphate is supported by extensive review of available literature on this topic…”.

Despite these findings though; some consumers remain convinced that using products containing SLS- even those recommended by dentists – could ultimately result in some sort of negative consequence such as becoming a turtle headed into its shell overnight i.e., stress related damages.

Should You Avoid Products with SLS?

So should you avoid toothpastes containing SLS? It really depends on your own feelings and level of paranoia about it I guess…but if you are struggling making decisions then here are a couple reasons why someone might choose to switch over:

1- Allergies

One main reason people may choose to avoid toothpaste with sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) would be having sensitivity/allergic reactions towards this ingredient which when present can cause burning sensations in people with persistent sores or ulcers will ensue from prolonged exposure potentially causing mouth pain instead od solving everyday issues like bad breath.

2- Ethical Issues

Another reason people might ditch the product containing (or similar chemicals) lies on claims regarding animal testing carried out during past decades that may still be part and parcel of things happening today. Conscious shopping isn’t what it once was: customers say they want vegan versions but fail back into immediate response modey because not everyone cares about activist politics gone too far this time round claiming loreal has been torturing horses just because they posses subsidiaries who thought purchasing used plastic caps makes business sense nowadys after years where human rights weren’t fully respected either: just look at today’s climate politics advocates on twitter that would rather blame airplane industries for carbon emissions than face some other responsibilites.

In fact, don’t even start trying to wrap your head around the whole thing; just suffice it to say that there are a number of compelling arguments out there for switching up your toothpaste product choices. Although admittedly swappping products shouldn’t come from paranoia over unsubstantiated claims being spread like wildfire across the internet / social media platforms while using VPN services maybe masking actual relevant contents consumed by end-users.

SLS-Free Alternatives

If you do decide to opt for an SLS-free toothpaste or personal care product, then take heart! There are actually plenty of great alternatives out there in place of this common ingredient – although these might need some plastic box organization and adjustment due to less known brands:

1- Fluoride Toothpastes

One alternative is fluoride toothpastes which provide similar results like whitening or cavity prevention without causing skin irritations that otherwise can result from SLS soaps/foams etc;. Some examples include Sensodyne Pronamel or Colgate Total lines – both options providing protection levels against tartar buildup over extended periods helping dental crowns last longer if used regularly (although dentists recommend using them as part of a wider oral hygiene routine ) .

2- Baking Soda-Based Products

Another option is baking soda-based products. These kinds contain natural ingredients such as baking soda alongside sea salt with combined cleaning abilities acting combinatorial reducing yellow stains too via mechanical abrasion improving overall gingivitis prophylaxis where those microbes have been history’s villains when attempting good mouth cleanliness during brushing) making use their antibacterial properties shared between non-toxic elements doing wonders solely on battery operated devices when high quality markup grade ingredients become selected;

3- Natural Ingredient Toothpastes

Thirdly oh yes thirdly, more people nowadays tend towards natural ingredient-based toothpaste products due to their perceived health benefits. These types tend to contain ingredients such as neem oil, tea tree oil or charcoal (these last two offer naturous teeth whitening and stain removal techniques).

So there you have it! A brief but straightforward rundown of everything you need to know about Sodium Lauryl Sulphate – enough details that would make conspiracy theorists go mad for years upon end if they had the chance.

Now it’s up to you whether or not SLS is something worth avoiding in your personal care products…or just swallow what internet says nowadays like everyone else does every other darn week depending on trendy moods whilst using UberEats services late at night watching Netflix till dawn.