Toothpaste Allergy

Synthetic flavoring chemicals are the most common allergens in toothpaste, but you may be allergic to other ingredients in toothpaste, including cocamidopropyl betaine (CAPB), fluoride, propylene glycol, essential oils, parabens, and gluten. Some reactions are linked to foaming agents, flavoring agents, preservatives, whitening ingredients, or other additives. Because these ingredients can also appear in mouthwash, lip balm, dental products, cosmetics, and personal care products, identifying the specific ingredient can help you avoid the same allergen in other products.

in St. Louis, Missouri

Toothpaste Allergy Symptoms

Toothpaste allergy symptoms are similar to contact dermatitis, meaning that a toothpaste allergy reaction only occurs where there’s direct contact with toothpaste. Symptoms may appear on the lips, gums, tongue, chin, skin around the mouth, throat, or inside of the mouth.

Typical toothpaste allergy symptoms include:

• Swollen lips
• Swollen gums
• Sores in the mouth
• Burning or itching sensation around the mouth
• Tongue irritation
• Itching and peeling of the lips and skin around the mouth
• Dry, cracked, red, or peeling lips
• Burning or irritation inside the mouth
• Irritation of the chin or skin around the mouth
• Throat irritation after brushing

Inflammation of the lips (cheilitis) is the most common symptom of toothpaste allergy, with symptoms inside the mouth being less common in comparison. Toothpaste allergy on the lips may look like dryness, redness, itching, peeling, cracking, burning, or swollen lips. Because cheilitis from toothpaste allergy can resemble dry lips, eczema, irritation, or other skin conditions, patch testing may be needed to identify the cause.

SLS Toothpaste Allergy & Sodium Lauryl Sulfate Symptoms

Mint Toothpaste Allergy & Flavoring Ingredients

Fluoride, Whitening Toothpaste & Other Ingredients

Toothpaste Allergy Diagnosis

Even if you’re certain that you’re allergic to your toothpaste, it’s still important that you get a proper toothpaste allergy diagnosis from an allergist. You may learn that a specific chemical is responsible for your allergy, enabling you to avoid it in your toothpaste and in other products that you use. You may also learn that another product entirely is responsible for your allergic reactions.

Given the many allergens in toothpaste, skin patch testing is the definitive method of determining whether or not you’re allergic to an ingredient in your toothpaste. At St. Louis Family Allergy, we can help you get to the bottom of your toothpaste allergy symptoms and confirm what you’re allergic to.

Patch testing may be especially helpful if you have recurring lip irritation, cheilitis, swollen lips, mouth sores, gum irritation, tongue irritation, or symptoms that continue after switching toothpaste. Your allergist may review your toothpaste, mouthwash, lip balm, dental products, cosmetics, and other personal care products to look for shared ingredients.

in St. Louis, Missouri

Toothpaste Allergy Treatment

The best toothpaste for allergy sufferers depends on the ingredient causing the reaction. Some patients may need an SLS-free toothpaste, while others may need a mint-free, flavor-free, fluoride-free, whitening-free, or preservative-free option. Products marketed as allergy free toothpaste, allergy friendly toothpaste, or hypoallergenic toothpaste may still contain ingredients that cause symptoms for some patients, so it is important to review the label carefully and choose products based on your confirmed allergy.

For immediate symptom relief, your allergist may prescribe a brief dose of a low-potency topical steroid, such as hydrocortisone 1% cream. Systemic corticosteroids (pills or shots) or steroid mouthwashes may need to be prescribed if you have persistent sores in your mouth, swollen gums, or tongue irritation. Be sure to consult your allergist before starting any new medications.

If symptoms are severe, involve swelling of the lips or throat, or make it difficult to breathe or swallow, seek medical care right away. While toothpaste allergy most often causes localized contact symptoms, urgent symptoms should not be ignored.

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