Where can I find an ALS-free toothpaste?
My dentist told me that the chemical Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate (ALS), a surfactant found in toothpaste, is possibly implicated as a cause of canker sores, which I get frequently. Toothpaste labels don’t list the “inactive” ingredients, so I don’t know what’s in my toothpaste. Other than home remedies like baking soda, does anyone know of a commercially marketed toothpaste that is explicitly ALS-free? Preferably something that can be had at the supermarket. I don’t like hunting around for health food stores.
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8 Answers
Tom’s of Maine uses Sodium Lauryl Sulfate according to thier list of ingredients.
You should be able to find that in just about any grocery store, I would think.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate is the most common surfactant in toothpaste (cheapest surfactant).
I don’t know why toothpaste is exempt from labeling laws.
Go to the counter, toothpaste in hand, and ask for detailed ingredients (in Canada, stores have to have this information if labels are incomplete)
You could also email the appropriate manufacturing company requesting same information.
SLS and ALS are chemically similar. How about one with neither?
Shouldn’t your dentist know?
@fireside, he probably does, but I don’t like to talk to the guy any more often than I have to.
@IchtheosaurusRex: “SLS and ALS are chemically similar. How about one with neither?”
A. Your question specifically stated ALS free, I assumed you knew what you were asking.
B. My response still satisifies your unasked question.
C. There are other reasons for canker sores as well. Canker Sores
Hm, reminds me of an old joke. A helicopter pilot got lost in the fog, and upon approaching an office building, held up a sign that said “Where Am I?”. Someone in the office building held up a sign saying “You are in a helicopter.” The chopper pilot scrawled “Thank you!” and went on to his destination safely.
When someone asked the pilot how he knew where he was, he said, “Well, I knew I must have been outside the Microsoft building, because the answer I got, while technically correct, was useless.”
Maybe I’ll try the baking soda after all.
Skin Deep is the place to look. Burt’s Bees doesn’t.
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