Can you suddenly develop a sensitivity to toothpaste?

[Elephantina]

I noticed about 2 months ago that my lips were unusually dry and sore. I tried different lip balms but they didn't help, I even switched my face wash with no change - I was getting almost a sore crust along my lower lip.

Then I went away for a week and was using a travel size Colgate Total - after 3 days my lips and tongue were on fire and the inside of my lips was peeling. I actually had that same reaction to Sensodyne a year or so ago, it shredded the inside of my mouth - I think it's the "stannous fluoride".

Switched back to my normal toothpaste once back home, but I still have this dry, sore crust on my lips and no amount of creams, lip oils or balms is helping. Anything salty sets my mouth on fire.

I ordered a fluoride free toothpaste and tried it this morning - the crust seems to be peeling away and everything feels less stingy, fingers crossed. I've been using just bog standard Colgate toothpaste with no frills for years and years! Can you suddenly develop a sensitivity to toothpaste?

I have developed an issue similar to yours with some toothpastes. In my case it's because they have switched one of the ingredients to a rapeseed derivative.

Something similar happened to my wife a few weeks ago. She switched to the plainest toothpaste she could find and is fine now. Finding plain toothpaste is actually quite hard as they all now need to pretend they are amazing....

I developed a sensitivity to SLS in toothpastes when I was mid 40s. My gums were swollen and painful. It went away within days of me switching to toothpastes without SLS.

Came here to say the exact same thing. I use Ultradex now

Oh gawd OK so I'm not imagining it then, it really could be that. Totally out of the blue!

I suppose having that reaction to Sensodyne was a surprise, but my dentist said that some people are sensitive to the active ingredient, and to try Colgate sensitive instead - didn't have any trouble with that, different ingredient. But then I reacted to Colgate Total, and now the most plain traditional Colgate you can buy is shredding my lips.

I'll have a look for Ultradex, thank you. I've got a fluoride free Aloe Vera one, don't know if that has any SLS in it.

Yes, I developed a sensitivity to mint toothpaste. Other flavours or even kids mild versions are ok

Yep. I developed an intolerance to toothpastes a few years ago. These were a couple of toothpastes I’d used for years. I got horrendous ulcers, peeling skin in my mouth, and what looked like burns almost.

I swapped to a natural fluoride-free toothpaste and my mouth is a million times better.

Sodium Laurel Sulphate gives both me and my young son ulcers.

There's only 1 adult supermarket toothpaste that doesn't have it as far as I know. We've both used it for 1 year and not a single ulcer