The effect of a sodium lauryl sulfate-free dentifrice on patients with recurrent oral ulceration

OBJECTIVE: Sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) is the most commonly used detergent in dentifrices. Recent reports have suggested that it may exacerbate condi tions with compromised epithelial integrity. The aim of this study was to c ompare the effect of an SLS-free dentifrice and an SLS-containing dentifric e on recurrent oral ulceration (ROU). DESIGN: A double-blind crossover clinical trial was carried out during whic h subjects used an SLS dentifrice for 8 weeks and an SLS-free dentifrice fo r 8 weeks. Each phase was preceded by a 2-week washout period. SETTING: A UK dental teaching hospital. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Forty-seven subjects completed the trial. They were a ll in the age range 10-62 years, had regularly recurrent oral ulceration re porting at least one to two ulcers per month and had normal levels of vitam in B-12, ferritin and folate. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The trial phases were compared for the following ulc er parameters-number of ulcer days, total pain scores, number of ulcer epis odes, and number of ulcers, Additional parameters compared were the number of ulcers per episode, ulcer duration, total pain per episode and ulcer siz e. RESULTS: None of the ulcer parameters measured was significantly affected b y the use of the SLS-free dentifrice as compared with the SLS dentifrice. CONCLUSION: SLS-free dentifrice had no significant effect on ulcer pattern in the ROU study group.