Sodium lauryl sulfate and recurrent aphthous ulcers. A preliminary study.

Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), a synthetic detergent commonly used in dentifrices, is an effective denaturant. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of SLS in patients with recurrent aphthous ulcers (RAU). Ten patients with multiple minor RAU participated in the study. The mean incidence of RAU was 17.8 during a 3-month period before the study. The patients used a dentifrice containing 1.2% SLS for a test period of 3 months followed by a dentifrice without SLS for the same time period. The results showed a statistically significant decrease in the number of aphthous ulcers from 14.3 after using the SLS-containing dentifrice to 5.1 ulcers after brushing with the SLS-free dentifrice (p < 0.05). It is suggested that the denaturing effect of SLS on the oral mucin layer, with exposure of the underlying epithelium, induces an increased incidence of RAU.