What are canker sores? Well, first, they’re extremely annoying. They’re small ulcers that occur around the inside of your mouth, around your tongue, or inside of your cheeks. Luckily, though they’re no fun, they’re not contagious—they usually resolve themselves and go away on their own.

Canker sores are different. They occur usually due to stress or from irritating cosmetics ingredients or food that doesn’t agree with you. You can also get them from the toothpaste that you use. Most commercial toothpaste contains sodium laureate sulfate (SLS), which is an unnecessary detergent that adds foam to products. The benefits of SLS are purely theatrical because consumers are led to assume that more lather leads to a better cleaning experience. But it doesn’t do anything at all—except potentially contribute to canker sores! (Just ask the Mayo Clinic .) You can skip the risk by brushing with SLS-free toothpaste like RiseWell Natural Hydroxyapatite Toothpaste. SLS is also found in shaving cream, lip balm, makeup remover, foundation, facial cleansers, exfoliants, teeth whitening products, mouthwash, bath bombs, and bath oils. If you’re not reading the ingredients list already, it’s time to start.

To get rid of cankers, just follow these simple steps:

• Reduce stress in your life. (We know, we know—easier said than done.)
• Remove SLS from your oral care products.
• Don’t eat foods that disagree with you.

Canker sores will usually resolve themselves, but if you need more support, make an appointment with your doctor or dentist. Please don’t be embarrassed. We know they can be painful, but luckily, they are almost always temporary.

About Dr. Derek

He is not only Co-Founder of RiseWell. Dr. Derek Gatta is a partner at Dr Max & Dr Gatta PLLC in Boca Raton, Florida. If you are in the area, he is your go-to dentist!