Best SLS Free Toothpaste

Why is SLS included in toothpaste?

Before you decide to exclude SLS from your toothpaste, it might be useful to know why SLS is in toothpaste.

SLS is included in toothpaste because of its cleaning action, and because it helps to stabilise other ingredients found in toothpaste (for example, helping the oil based and water based ingredients to stay mixed).

There are also some known benefits of adding SLS to toothpaste:

• SLS is antimicrobial – it can help kill bacteria.
• SLS can prevent formation of plaque (which causes cavities and gum disease). 
• SLS causes foaming, which is cleansing in itself, helping to loosen debris on and around teeth. 
• SLS and its foaming action helps to spread toothpaste into hard to reach areas, for example helping to get fluoride between the teeth where a toothbrush cannot reach.
• People generally like the foaming sensation of toothpaste containing SLS, and it does not leave an unpleasant aftertaste (unlike some alternative detergents that could be used).

Several of the recommendations in my more general best toothpaste article do include SLS.

Why choose a toothpaste without SLS?

Despite all these known benefits, there are some known risks (and some misinformation) about toothpastes containing SLS. 

There is some evidence to show that SLS-free toothpastes are just as effective as toothpastes containing SLS despite the benefits listed above.

Why are people looking for a SLS-free toothpaste? Well, reasons to avoid SLS include possible health concerns, environmental concerns, and lifestyle choices aiming for a natural toothpaste.

Known health reasons to avoid SLS toothpaste include:

• Repeated use of products containing SLS can lead to contact dermatitis. Although generally speaking this only applies if it is used in high doses and if it has prolonged contact (which isn’t always the case in the mouth, where saliva helps to wash the paste away).
• SLS causes irritation to the cells of the gums and soft tissues in the mouth. This can lead to mouth sores and stomatitis. Trials have shown SLS to cause uncomfortable mucosal sloughing (when the top layer of your gum falls away from the surface).
• Evidence shows that SLS can cause increased irritation to people who already suffer from recurrent aphthous stomatitis.  Toothpastes containing SLS can slow down healing and increase pain if you suffer from regular ulcers in your mouth. The recommendation is that you avoid toothpastes containing SLS.

An unpleasant side effect after using a toothpaste containing SLS is that it may affect your taste buds after usage. You may have noticed this yourself, in what the authors of this paper described as the orange juice effect: “when consuming a citrus juice drink just after toothbrushing with an SLS dentifrice, SLS causes an astringent and unpleasant taste sensation.”

Finally, if you are Looking for a natural toothpaste, you may want to avoid SLS. It is possible for SLS to be made synthetically or can be derived from a natural source.

Best SLS free toothpaste without fluoride

Whilst I don’t recommend fluoride free toothpaste, as you miss out on the known anti-cavity properties of fluoride, I respect that some people may still wish to avoid toothpastes containing fluoride. 

In which case, there are two main options available to you:

• An SLS free fluoride free toothpaste that contains no fluoride and no major source of remineralizing agent. Whilst ingredients like xylitol have a small anti-cavity effect, it would not be enough to be remineralizing in the same way as fluoride.
• An SLS free fluoride free toothpaste that contains no fluoride and which does contain an alternative remineralizing agent. Calcium phosphates (such as hydroxyapatite) help reharden the tooth surface in a similar way to fluoride. These ingredients are newer than fluoride and are still undergoing long term studies, but have been FDA approved. They are normally more expensive than fluoride, but there is lots of evidence supporting their effectiveness.

If you are considering a fluoride free toothpaste, which is also free from SLS, I would recommend looking towards the following brands, which do contain alternative remineralising agents:

• Biomed (view on Amazon)
• BioRepair (view on Amazon)
• Ecodenta (view on Amazon)

Best SLS free toothpaste for kids

Some toothpastes are branded specifically for kids. In some cases this may be because they have a more child friendly flavour, but it might also be because of a lower fluoride content. 

If you are considering an SLS toothpaste for your child, you could in fact pick any of the recommended toothpastes in the best options, so long as they do not swallow the toothpaste, and that it is used under supervision. 

However, the following brands do also provide specific children’s toothpaste if you are considering it:

• The Humble Co  – Toothpaste in a Jar (view on Amazon)

Best SLS free toothpaste for gingivitis / receding gums

If you have sore gums you may consider an SLS free toothpaste to prevent further irritation, especially if you already have ulcers. Some toothpastes may also include further ingredients to help reduce the amount of gum disease causing bacteria, as explained in more detail in my article on the best toothpaste for gum disease.

A few recommendations would include:

• Jason Healthy Mouth® Tartar Control Anti-Cavity Toothpaste – Tea Tree & Cinnamon (view on Amazon)
• Therabreath PerioTherapy toothpaste (view on Amazon)
• Green People Organic Children Mandarin and Aloe Vera Toothpaste (view on Green People website)
• Corsodyl Daily Toothpaste (view on Amazon)

FAQ

Are there any other names for SLS?

Yes, SLS may also be called sodium dodecyl sulfate; dodecyl sulfate, sodium salt; and sodium n-dodecyl sulfate.

Is SLS a natural ingredient?

Sodium lauryl sulfate can be made synthetically or naturally. SLS can be derived from either petroleum based or vegetable based sources.

Is SLS in toothpaste safe? 

The Cosmetic, Toiletry and Perfumery Association Limited (CTPA) state in the booklet Confidence in Cosmetics: “Whilst prolonged or frequently repeated contact with high concentrations may cause irritation, this is not normally seen at the low concentrations used in cosmetics and personal care products, and they are safe to use in cosmetic products. “

What are the links between SLS and cancer?

There are no known links between SLS and cancer. The American Cancer Society does not list SLS as a cancer causing agent, and there is no scientific evidence to support claims that regular use of SLS in toothpaste can lead to cancer. 

Are there alternatives to SLS?

Yes, some alternatives to SLS include: cocamidopropyl betaine (tego betain), sodium methyl cocoyl taurate (adinol), stearate 30, sodium N-lauryl sarcosinate, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Lauryl glucoside

Is Colgate Toothpaste SLS Free?

No, most toothpastes from Colgate contain SLS. They consider SLS as a safe ingredient. They have SLS free baby toothpaste. 

Is Sensodyne Toothpaste SLS Free?

Most Sensodyne toothpastes are SLS free as they believe it can “irritate sensitive teeth and gums”.

Other SLS-free toothpastes

In the table below, I have included some brief notes and a comparison of other SLS-free toothpastes.

Unless stated otherwise, the SLS-free toothpastes included on this page have been selected using the following criteria:

• Contain fluoride or other remineralising ingredients
• Contain no sodium lauryl sulfate

If you are choosing your own toothpaste, I recommend factoring the above points in as well as the general advice from our toothpaste hub page.