Abrasive Toothpaste
- Abrasives remove plaque and daily deposits from the tooth.
- However, toothpastes with higher abrasivity can cause irreversible damage, including enamel, porcelain, and root surface abrasion, especially if a lot is used on a regular basis.
- Thus, it is important to know the Relative Dentin Abrasivity (RDA) of your toothpaste to ensure that it is safe and effective to use.
- For example:
- If you have porcelain veneers or crowns, you will want to avoid using whitening or tartar control toothpastes, which are especially abrasive. Over time, abrasive toothpastes dull the luster of your porcelain.
- If you have recession and/or exposed root surfaces, these surfaces wear at a rate that is 8 times faster than enamel.
Overtime, this abrasion can lead to tooth sensitivity.
- Often, these abrasive toothpastes, which claim to whiten teeth and control tartar, are more expensive than their less abrasive alternatives.
- Dr. McKay recommends using a pea-sized amount of toothpaste with an abrasive index of 60 or less. More toothpaste is not better.
- Dr. McKay recommends that you first brush the inside of your lower back teeth, because that is the area that people often miss.
- Where you start brushing gets the most wear, because the toothpaste is concentrated when you start brushing.
- Dr. McKay recommends that you brush twice a day for two minutes each time and that you floss once per day.
- Although the RDAs of the toothpastes listed below are subject to change, you may use the list to find the safest and most effective toothpaste for you today.
| Legend |
| Very Low Abrasive — RDA 01 – 39 |
| Low Abrasive — RDA 40 – 70 |
| Medium Abrasive — RDA 71 – 99 |
| High Abrasive — RDA 100 – 149 |
| Harmfully Abrasive — RDA 150-260 |
| RDA | Your Toothpaste |
| 80 | AIM |
| 91 | Aquafresh Sensitive |
| 113 | Aquafresh Whitening |
| 81 | Amway Glister |
| 117 | Arm & Hammer Advance White Gel |
| 106 | Arm & Hammer Advance White Paste |
| 70 | Arm & Hammer Advance White Sensitive |
| 65 | Arm & Hammer Complete Care Plus Enamel Strengthening |
| 54 | Arm & Hammer Complete Care Stain Defense |
| 35 | Arm & Hammer Dental Care |
| 168 | Arm & Hammer Dental Care PM Fresh Mint |
| 48 | Arm & Hammer Dental Care Sensitive |
| 42 | Arm & Hammer Metadent Advanced |
| 42 | Arm & Hammer Peroxicare |
| 52 | Arm & Hammer Peroxicare Regular |
| 49 | Arm & Hammer Peroxicare Tartar |
| 103 | Arm & Hammer Sensation |
| 117 | Arm & Hammer Sensation Tartar Control |
| 54 | Arm & Hammer Sensitive Freshening |
| 54 | Arm & Hammer Sensitive Multi-Protection |
| 54 | Arm & Hammer Sensitive Whitening |
| 8 | Arm & Hammer Tooth Powder |
| 78 | Biotene Gentle Dry Mouth Repair |
| 23 | Biotene PBF Dry Mouth |
| 63 | Biotene Regular |
| 85 | Biotene Sensitive |
| 60 | Boiron Homeodent Natural Toothpaste |
| 65 | Clinpro |
| 80 | Close-Up |
| 120 | Close-Up with Baking Soda |
| 110 | Close-Up Paste/Gel |
| 53 | ClosysII |
| 70 | Colgate 2-in-1 Fresh Mint |
| 200 | Colgate 2-in-1 Tartar Control/ Whitening |
| 200 | Colgate 2-in-1 Icy Blast/Whitening |
| 145 | Colgate Baking Soda & Peroxide Whitening |
| 120 | Colgate Baking Soda Paste |
| 110 | Colgate Herbal |
| 175 | Colgate Luminous |
| 100 | Colgate Optic White |
| 106 | Colgate Platinum |
| 68 | Colgate Regular |
| 63 | Colgate Sensitive Enamel Protect |
| 83 | Colgate Sensitive Maximum Strength |
| 125 | Colgate Sensitive Pro Relief, Enamel Repair |
| 165 | Colgate Tartar Control |
| 70 | Colgate Total |
| 124 | Colgate Whitening |
| 130 | Crest Extra Whitening |
| 95 | Crest Kids |
| 144 | Crest MultiCare Whitening |
| 130 | Crest ProHealth |
| 145 | Crest ProHealth Enamel Shield |
| 130 | Crest ProHealth Night |
| 130 | Crest ProHealth and Scope |
| 95 | Crest Regular |
| 107 | Crest Sensitivity Protection |
| 124 | Crest Sensitvity Whitening and Scope |
| 200 | Crest White Vivid |
| 18 | CTx4 Gel Carifree |
| 85 | Dentisse |
| 30 | Elmex Sensitive Plus |
| 98 | Fluoridex Daily Defense |
| 155 | Fluoridex Enhanced Whitening |
| 52 | Healthy Teeth and Gums |
| 103 | Mentadent |
| 101 | Natural White |
| 176 | Nature’s Gate Paste |
| 45 | Oxyfresh |
| 97 | Oxyfresh Powder |
| 95 | Oxyfresh with Fluoride |
| 150 | Pepsodent (given as upper bound) |
| 39 | PerioSciences AO Pro Hydrating |
| 51 | PerioSciences AO Pro Sensitive |
| 57 | PerioSciences AO Pro White Care |
| 53 | PerioSciences AOPro Natural |
| 110 | Prevident 5000 Booster |
| 85 | Rembrant Intense Stain |
| 63 | Rembrant Mint |
| 53 | Rembrant Original |
| 94 | Rembrant Plus |
| 79 | Sensodyne |
| 92 | Sensodyne Cool Gel |
| 104 | Sensodyne Extra Whitening |
| 94 | Sensodyne Fresh Impact |
| 90 | Sensodyne Fresh Mint |
| 37 | Sensodyne ProNamel |
| 104 | Sensodyne Repair and Protect with Novamin |
| 100 | Sensodyne Tarter Control Whitening |
| 44 | Squigle Enamel Saver |
| 70 | Squigle Tooth Builder |
| 7 | Straight baking soda |
| 62 | Super Smile |
| 93 | Tom’s of Maine Regular |
| 57 | Tom’s of Maine Children’s, |
| 49 | Tom’s of Maine Regular Sensitive |
| 4 | Toothbrush with plain water |
| 133 | Ultra brite |
| 145 | Ultra Brite Advanced Whitening Formula |
| 260 | Ultrabrite Advanced Whitening |
| 82 | Under the Gum |
| 45 | Weleda Calendula Toothpaste |
| 40 | Weleda Children’s Tooth Gel |
| 45 | Weleda Pink Toothpaste w/Ratanhia |
| 30 | Weleda Plant Tooth Gel |
| 15 | Weleda Salt Toothpaste |
| 62 | Wintermint Supre Smile |
