Which Toothpaste Should I Use?

Tooth abrasion is most simply defined as the interaction of teeth with other materials, one of which is toothpaste. Manufacturers add abrasive ingredients to toothpastes to effectively remove plaque and stain from the teeth, such as alumina, hydrated silica, dicalcium phosphate, calcium carbonate and baking soda.

If you’re like most people, you pick the toothpaste that tastes the best and makes your mouth feel cleanest after brushing; however, as Dr. Gross and the team will tell you, there’s more to it than that!

All of our mouths are different, and it’s important to be aware of the level of abrasiveness in various toothpastes you find in store aisles. Overtime, toothpastes with higher indexes may scratch crowns and fillings, wear away tooth enamel and root surfaces, and cause tooth sensitivity. We at Susan Gross, DDS advise using toothpaste with low abrasiveness to protect your teeth.

Below we’ve included a link to a list of toothpastes ranked by their RDA (Relative Dentin Abrasion) values. Like all decisions pertaining to your oral health, please ask Dr. Gross or any one of our team members for a recommendation specific to your individual dental needs.

Toothpaste Abrasiveness Ranked by RDA (Relative Dentin Abrasion) Value