Self Reflection:

Do I pay attention to the ingredients in my personal care products?

• Remember, some of the ingredients in personal care items may not be the best choice for you and your family. If you're working on living a more natural and holistic lifestyle, you'll want to choose products that use high-quality and safer ingredients instead.

Could the ingredients in my toothpaste be harming my oral health?

• Despite your best intentions, some toothpaste ingredients may undermine your oral health. Triclosan, SLS, and artificial colorants can disturb your microbiome, potentially leading to canker sores and bad breath. And ingredients such as fluoride can affect your sleep, thyroid health, and more. We recommend choosing a fluoride-free toothpaste like Karmicare. Ingredients like guarana and valerian work with your body's natural sleep/wake cycles helping you feel refreshed in the morning and ready for bed in the evening.

What’s an easy way to upgrade my wellness routine?

• Feeling like you have to overhaul your entire routine can feel intimidating. But it doesn't have to. Switching even just one or two of your personal care products is a start. It can go a long way in reducing your chemical exposure.

Key takeaways:

• Many commercial toothpastes contain unnecessary additives, like sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS).
• Glycolipids, a 100% biodegradable surfactant, are an excellent alternative to traditional foaming agents such as SLS — yet hardly anyone is using it in their toothpaste.
• Toothpaste containing sodium lauryl sulfate (or SLS) can compromise oral health.
  

When was the last time you looked closely at the ingredient list on your toothpaste? Believe it or not, you may want to keep an eye out for more than just fluoride.

Even though more and more people are learning about why they may want to choose fluoride-free toothpaste over standard toothpaste brands, another common toothpaste ingredient could sabotage your best efforts at oral care — sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS).

Keep reading to learn more about sodium lauryl sulfate, why you may want to choose an SLS-free toothpaste, and why we are using glycolipids for optimum oral health while brushing.

What Is Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)?

If you’ve spent time reading the ingredient lists on your personal care products, there’s a good chance you’ve seen sodium lauryl sulfate (or SLS) somewhere in the formula. From shampoos to shaving creams, mouthwash, hair dye, and everything in between, SLS is a fairly common ingredient.

Another place you’re likely to find SLS? Check out your household cleaning products. Yep, you read that right. The same ingredient in your laundry soap, dishwashing liquid, and bathroom cleaners could be lurking in your teeth whitening toothpaste. So what’s it doing there?

In a nutshell, sodium lauryl sulfate is a surfactant that acts as an emulsifier. Think of it this way: When a product contains both oil and water, the only way to get those ingredients to blend together is to add an element that helps them do exactly that. And even though other ingredients do this (more on that soon), SLS pops up on those ingredients lists more often than not.

It’s not just about SLS acting as a thickener, however. It’s also used as a foaming agent.

Many times, it’s sodium lauryl sulfate that’s responsible for the foamy shampoo experience you have when you wash your hair or dishes. While it might seem the amount of bubbles you see correlates to how clean something is getting, that isn’t necessarily the case. More often than not, lathering agents are used as a psychological trigger, giving you the illusion that something is being cleaned without actually cleaning. And if your goal is to nurture and support your oral health, you might want to think twice about what you’re putting on your toothbrush and choose an SLS-free toothpaste.

3 Reasons to Choose an SLS-Free Toothpaste

Staving off gum disease and maintaining healthy teeth (and a bright smile) doesn’t have to come at the cost of turning to common toothpaste brands. Aside from avoiding fluoride, an SLS-free toothpaste may make all the difference in your oral health. Here are three reasons you may want to avoid products with SLS in your dental health routine.

1. SLS Is an Unnecessary Additive

Sometimes it isn’t always clear which ingredients do the heavy lifting in your toothpaste, and the more additives and extras in a formulation, the more confusing it can be. And sodium lauryl sulfate is one of several unnecessary additives, including detergents, dyes, parabens, and other chemical preservatives. It’s important to note the SLS you see on ingredients lists can be synthetic and petroleum-based or more naturally derived (although this still requires chemical synthesis).

But don’t be fooled into thinking SLS is a must in your toothpaste. It isn’t. Glycolipids are an excellent sulfate-free swap for the foaming action provided by sodium lauryl sulfate. Even more, it’s 100% biodegradable and more environmentally friendly. Made from fermented sugars, glycolipids are also biocompatible, so there’s no harm in swallowing (unlike other toothpastes made with fluoride). These are all reasons why Karmicare uses glycolipids for optimum oral health while brushing.

FYI: Be mindful that SLS isn’t just lurking in big brands like Colgate and Biotene. And even if you do see a toothpaste that is SLS-free, such as Sensodyne Pronamel, it may not be fluoride-free. SLS can also be in more natural toothpaste such as Tom’s of Maine, so it’s essential you take a few minutes to thoroughly read through the ingredient list before you buy.

2. Support Your Oral Microbiome

Why not skip the chemical cocktail and choose an SLS-free toothpaste? Better yet, pick one with higher quality and more natural ingredients in the first place. If you visit a natural dentist, they’re likely to recommend looking for products with more recognizable and natural ingredients. Here are some things to keep in mind as you shop:

• Pass on artificial flavors and look for toothpaste made with real ingredients. Fresh mint flavoring from peppermint or spearmint is a great option. Xylitol, aloe, baking soda, tea tree, and coconut oil or coconut water are natural ingredients that are more supportive of your oral microbiome than those you may find in standard toothpaste.
• Whether you’re looking for sensitivity relief, extra whitening, or just want to maintain fresh breath and healthy gums, a higher concentration of active ingredients will win out over additives and filler ingredients. Remember, you don’t have to stick with fluoride-based toothpaste. For its stellar anti-plaque and remineralization properties, consider fluoride-free options such as nano hydroxyapatite.

Karmicare’s Biorhythmic Oral Hygiene Set is the most effective SLS-free toothpaste option for whole body health that extends beyond your mouth. Nano hydroxyapatite goes to work remineralizing your teeth. It enhances your enamel, repairs small forming cavities, and relieves sensitivity, all while soothing gums and giving you a botanically bright smile every time you brush.

And with a morning and evening formulation, you’ll start and unwind your day more holistically. Karmicare’s Awake toothpaste primes your teeth and sparks your mind with nootropics like guarana while waking up your tastebuds with zesty lime and fresh mint for fresh breath.

Fight tartar and wind down in the evening with the Asleep toothpaste. Valerian helps support restful sleep and a soothing cinnamon and orange flavor that will set the tone for a relaxing bedtime routine. Another perk? Asleep also helps detoxify the mouth and remineralize your teeth while you snooze. You get to slip into bed knowing your toothpaste worked to completely cleanse your oral environment by removing all debris, toxins, and bacteria from food. Stronger teeth, reduced tooth sensitivity, and a brighter smile? Sounds like a win-win.

Pro Tip: Karmicare is safe for the whole family. It’s designed to be left on your teeth instead of going down the drain (like conventional toothpastes with SLS and fluoride). And since it’s safe to swallow, there’s no need to buy a specialty kids toothpaste, making Karmicare a superior choice in oral care.

3. SLS May Cause Oral Irritation

Even if you're focused on taking terrific care of your teeth and smile, the wrong toothpaste formula could undermine your efforts every time you reach for your toothbrush.

SLS is known as an irritant and may be causing oral issues you didn't know could be connected to sodium lauryl sulfate.

Canker sores, dry mouth, bad breath, and sensitive teeth can all be attributed to using toothpaste with SLS. Sodium lauryl sulfate dries out the tissues of your mouth. When those conditions change, so will the pH of your oral environment, which can lead to those uncomfortable (and downright unpleasant) experiences.

Using toothpaste with SLS can also cause tissue sloughing, which is precisely what it sounds like. The skin inside your mouth is thin and delicate, making the skin of your inner cheeks and lips more prone to peeling and resulting in further discomfort.

Consider switching from your old brand to an SLS-free toothpaste and say goodbye to persistent canker sores and bad breath.

Did You Know? Karmicare's dental floss contains activated charcoal, so you can safely get an even brighter smile. The charcoal will help lift tea and coffee stains, whiten areas your toothbrush may miss, and eliminate plaque buildup.

Choosing an SLS-Free Toothpaste Is a More Natural Option for Your Oral Health (and Peace of Mind)

Not all toothpaste is created equal. And while some toothpastes may appear to support your oral health goals, sometimes they do more harm than good. Being mindful and particular with the ingredients you're using in your toothpaste pays dividends. Even more so when they can take wellness one step further than oral health and can support your whole body.