No Sodium Lauryl Suphate please!

Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS) is a very common chemical found in shampoos, hair conditioners, toothpaste, body washes bubble baths etc. It's used to help the product get foamy and stay foamy.

Sodium Lauryl Sulphate started its career as an industrial degreasant and garage floor cleaner. When applied to human skin it has the effect of stripping off the oil layer and then irritating and eroding the skin, leaving it rough and pitted.

I've discovered it my kids toothpaste too.

I've had a condition called Oral Lichen Planus for a few years now and I've tried a number of things to control it. This is basically sore and inflammed gums. It comes and goes and there's no cure. I'm currently cutting out all drinks with Caffeine and eating a lot more salads and fruit. More sleep and less stress...

The one thing I have never changed is my Toothpaste and I been using Colgate Total for years. It has SLS in it and I'm wondering whether brushing my teeth everyday with a very mild industrial garage floor cleaner is irritating my Gums?

Not all toothpastes have this ingredient in it.

I wonder what else is lurking in the ingredients of the stuff we use every day.