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Does Toothpaste with Tartar Control Contribute to Recurrent Canker Sores?

Home remedies may be helpful for recurrent canker sores, they could be a sign of an underlying issue such as celiac disease or an autoimmune disorder.

Q. I have had trouble with recurrent canker sores for years. I finally figured out that avoiding toothpaste with tartar control or whitening agents keeps me out of trouble.

A. The medical literature is surprisingly sparse when it comes to whether tartar control or whitening compounds contribute to aphthous ulcers (canker sores). There is a popular belief that the detergent sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) can trigger such lesions, but a small randomized controlled trial did not find such a link (Oral Diseases, Oct. 2012).

Other visitors to this website, including a dental hygienist, have suggested from their experience that whitening or tartar control toothpastes may be especially irritating. They have found that using Biotene or Weleda brand dentifrice can be helpful. Others simply clean their teeth with baking soda. 

Home remedies that might be helpful for canker sores include applying the gel from an aloe vera leaf or licorice extract in a patch. Eating sauerkraut and swishing the juice around in the mouth frequently seem to speed healing. Eating kiwi fruit is another favorite remedy, as is swishing a swallow of buttermilk around in the mouth several times a day before drinking it down. L-lysine supplements are often used to treat cold sores; some people maintain they are also soothing for canker sores.

Keep in mind that recurrent canker sores could be a signal of an underlying health problem such as celiac disease or an autoimmune disorder. 

If you have a favorite way to prevent canker sores, share it in the comments below:

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About the Author
Terry Graedon, PhD, is a medical anthropologist and co-host of The People’s Pharmacy radio show, co-author of The People’s Pharmacy syndicated newspaper columns and numerous books, and co-founder of The People’s Pharmacy website. Terry taught in the Duke University School of Nursing and was an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology. She is a Fellow of the Society of Applied Anthropology. Terry is one of the country's leading authorities on the science behind folk remedies..
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