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 conditions with compromised epithelial integrity. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of an SLS-free dentifrice and an SLS-containing dentifrice on recurrent oral ulceration (ROU).


METHODS
A double-blind crossover clinical trial was carried out during which subjects used an SLS dentifrice for 8 weeks and an SLS-free dentifrice for 8 weeks. Each phase was preceded by a 2-week washout period.


METHODS
A UK dental teaching hospital.


METHODS
Forty-seven subjects completed the trial. They were all in the age range 10-62 years, had regularly recurrent oral ulceration reporting at least one to two ulcers per month and had normal levels of vitamin B12, ferritin and folate.


METHODS
The trial phases were compared for the following ulcer parameters--number of ulcer days, total pain scores, number of ulcer episodes, and number of ulcers. Additional parameters compared were the number of ulcers per episode, ulcer duration, total pain per episode and ulcer size.


RESULTS
None of the ulcer parameters measured was significantly affected by the use of the SLS-free dentifrice as compared with the SLS dentifrice.


CONCLUSIONS
SLS-free dentifrice had no significant effect on ulcer pattern in the ROU study group.
Healy
C M
CM
Department of Oral Medicine and Periodontology, St. Bartholomew's, London, UK.
Paterson
M
M
Joyston-Bechal
S
S
Williams
D M
DM
Thornhill
M H
MH
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003802:Dentifrices / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013281:Stomatitis, Aphthous / Q000139:chemically induced*; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*
D003802:Dentifrices; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate