Sensodyne Total Care Toothgel

Having suffered from sore gums, mouth ulcers and sensitive teeth on and off for many years I was very interested to read a magazine article recently that suggested there may be link between recurring sore gums and mouth ulcers with the foaming agent found in most toothpastes, namely Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS).

This got me wondering so I did a bit of research into SLS and found the following:

“SLS is a common ingredient, derived from coconut oil, of cosmetics and personal care products including toothpaste, shampoo, shaving cream, cleansers, liquid soap, shower gel and bath foam. It is a surfactant - a chemical which reduces the surface tension of a liquid, allowing it to foam or to penetrate solids. It is used as an industrial-grade detergent and degreaser, one of its uses is to clean engine oil from garage floors. It is used in cosmetics because it is a cheap foaming agent. This alone should be enough to make you wonder what it is doing in your cosmetics. The fact is that this chemical has many side effects one of which is when it is used in toothpaste, it causes microscopic damage to the mouth tissues, which could lead to gum disease, and is linked to repeating mouth ulcers. Research in Japan has shown that SLS in toothpaste would not rinse out properly after 8 rinses of fresh water, even in small quantities.” http://www.ecological-living.info/ecoliv​ing/sls.php

The above article pretty much made my mind up about changing my current toothpaste, so off I went in search of a SLS free toothpaste. There are not many of them out there!! Many of the Health Shops sell SLS free toothpastes but these also contain no fluoride. I found Sensodyne Total Care Gel to be the only one in high street chemists that was SLS free but contained fluoride, so went for it on that basis.

I was a bit uneasy of how it would taste the first time I used it but these fears immediately disappeared as soon as I started brushing. It had a pleasant minty taste and it appears to keep your mouth fresher for longer. It goes on the brush quite easily from the tube and foams very well once you begin brushing.

I’ve been using Sensodyne Total Care Gel for over a month now and can honestly say that it has made a massive difference to my sore gums and mouth ulcers. My teeth are no where near as sensitive as they used to be either. No longer do I suffer from these painful demons.

Sensodyne Tooth Gel comes in a 45ml size and is available in Coolmint. Whilst SLS free, it still contains fluoride, which helps protect your teeth from decay and provides cavity protection.

My overall appraisal on Sensodyne Total Care Gel is that it does the job that it is meant to do without losing the fluoride protection and fresh breath qualities. The only down side is the price, but at the end of the day, I feel it’s worth paying those extra pennies for the effect Sensodyne Total Care Gel has had on my teeth, gums and ulcers.