Lifelong mouth ulcers and painful toothbrushing, could it be toothpaste allergy?

[KatyMac]

I never understood how people were so calm about brushing their teeth, they just got up and did it without any issues

I hated it - it stung was almost painful, it was the most annoying part of my day - I always had mouth ulcers and small painful patches in my mouth - when I questioned it I was told the ulcers made brushing painful - no one helped not dentists or doctors

I wondered about SLS allergy/intolerance and tried all sorts of toothpastes, nothing really worked and I just got used to it

This year, while I was in a hygienist appointment the dentist popped in to fix a bit of machinery and 2 days later I saw him for my 6 month check up.....I had a mouthful of ulcers and he asked if I knew why

I said I always had ulcers after hygienist appointment, he asked about being allergic to toothpaste and I said I'd tried all sorts of toothpastes; in the end it turns out there is a substance in the polish they use that is in toothpaste and I might be allergic to that

So he recommended a new toothpaste & guess what - cleaning my teeth is painless and not annoying

I am annoyed at how accepting I was of the discomfort and pain & the fact it took me 57 years 9ok maybe not the first 5-10!!) to find out I'm bloody allergic!

What toothpaste are you using now? What is it you are allergic too? It’s crazy how long you coped with this as mouth ulcers are awful.

Zendium - the dentist isn't massively happy as he had me on a higher flouride one but I am so relieved

I (stupidly) used a bit of the old toothpaste as id run out to go away & the ulcers and sores are back!

My DM has had this issue and too, but also investigated dental ‘products’ and allergies. It helped a bit, but not entirely.

She then followed some other advice (if it’s helpful
i will ask her the detail?) and gave up some other products that have some compound in which seems to exacerbate ulcers. Coffee, nuts (peanuts specially) and chocolate.

She is now ulcer free for the first time in 15 years. She was in such a mess with them - they were huge and sore and any kind of dental messing - dental appts, hygienist, or catching her mouth on sharp food - would set it off again. This new regime has resolved it altogether.

There’s definitely some toothpastes that I can’t use for the reasons you state. I try and stick to the one I know works for me.

How funny @Mykittensmittens i have never touched coffee, I hate it and I avoid nuts like the plague - but the one that is the worst for me is almond!

Glad you found a good none @FurForksSake

Are you coeliac? When DH's had wheat he always gets mouth ulcers

I don't think so @SuperGinger 2x6 month trials, half a dozen blood testd and 3 biopsies suggest not, but they keep sending me for tests

I'm allergic to lots of things and can only use colgate toothpaste. The dentist was determined to get me onto sensodyne instant relief for sensitive teeth, but it makes my mouth and the corners of my mouth sore. Same with oral b.

My son had this. He turned out to have orofacial granulomatosis. It's the benzoates in toothpaste that are the problem for him. He can have sensodyne which doesn't have them. It is also some foods ..there are some NHS lists on line of foods to avoid. Spices such as cinnamon are also problematic.

I can only use Colgate total.

Whenever I’ve switched to any other toothpaste, including another Colgate, I get mouth ulcers.

I’m not sure if it’s an allergy,
or the fact that I’ve changed toothpaste and upset my mouth

I also got the worst ever case of mouth ulcers after drinking a glass of mulled wine at Christmas

I was advised to stop using toothpastes with sodium laurel sulphate because of mouth ulcers. I switched to sensodine pronamel, and had no problems for years. Then used their whitening version, because dd bought it. Started getting ulcers again. Sure enough the ingredients included sls. Switched back and have had no problems for the last 18 months.

Wow that must have been awful. Have a bad ulcer at the moment that kills when I brush my teeth.