Abrasiveness Index of Common Toothpastes

Relative Dentin Abrasivity (RDA) is a method of measuring the erosive effect of abrasives in toothpastes on tooth dentin. This value is necessary for FDA approval of the toothpaste but is usually not required to be disclosed on the label. In order to be FDA approved, the RDA must be 200 or lower. It is recommended to use a toothpaste with a RDA of 70 or lower. The lower the number, the less enamel/dentin will be worn away. The best way to know your toothpaste’s RDA is to ask the company. Here is a chart to help in understanding what the number means:
Table:
Low Abrasive: 0-70
Medium Abrasive: 70-100
Highly Abrasive: 100-150
Regarded as Harmful Limit: 150-250
This chart lists some common toothpastes that can be found in stores or online with their RDA value. This chart is courtesy of Kois Center located in Seattle, WA.
Abrasiveness Index of Common Toothpastes:
(RDA#- Toothpaste Brand Name)
0- Livionex
4- Toothbrush with Plain Water
7- Plain Baking Soda
8- Arm & Hammer (A&H) Tooth Powder
15- Weleda Salt Toothpaste
18.5- CariFree CTx4 Gel 1100/5000
18.5- CariFree CTx3 Gel
30- Elmex Sensitive Plus
30- Weleda Plant Tooth Gel
34- Pronamel
35- A&H Dental Care
40- Weleda Children’s Tooth Gel
42- A&H Metadent Advance Whitening
44- Squiggle Enamel Saver
45- Weleda Calendula Toothpaste
45- Weleda Pink Toothpaste with Ratanhia
45- Oxyfresh
48- A&H Dental Care Seneitive
49- Tom’s of Maine Sensitive
49- A&H Peroxicare Tartar Control
51- Crest with Scope
52- A&H Peroxicare Regular
52- Healthy Teeth & Gums
53- Rembrandt Original
53- Closys
54- A&H Dental Care PM Bold Mint
57- PerioSciences White Care
57- Tom’s of Maine Children’s
60- Biotene Gel
62- Clinpro 5000
62- Supersmile
63- Rembrandt Mint
65- Colgate Prevident 5000 Plus
65- Colgate Enamel Care Advance White
65- Crest with Scope Whitening
68- Colgate Regular
70- Colgate Total
70- A&H Advance White Sensitive
70- Colgate 2-in1 Fresh Mint
74- Crest Rejuvenating Effects Liquid Gel
75- Prevident 5000 Booster
79- Sensodyne
80- Aim
80- Biotene Paste with Fluoride
83- Colgate Sensitive Max Strength
91- Aquafresh Sensitive
93- Tom’s of Maine Regular
94- Rembrandt Plus
94- Plus White
95- Oxyfresh with Fluoride
95- Crest Regular
97- Oxyfresh Powder
100- Colgate Enamel Care Natural White
100- Colgate Optic White
101- Natural White
103- Mentadent
103- A&H Sensation
104- Sensodyne Extra Whitening
106- Colgate Platinum
106- A&H Advance White Extreme White
107- Crest Sensitivity Protection
109- Topex ReNew
109- Colgate Tartar Control w/ Baking Soda
110- Colgate Herbal
110- Amway Glister
113- Aquafresh Whitening
117- A&H Advance White Gel
117- A&H Sensation Tartar Control
117- Fluoridex Daily Defense
120- Close Up with Baking Soda
120- Crest Extra White w/ Tartar Protection
124- Colgate Whitening
126- Crest Maximum Sensitivity
130- Crest Extra Whitening
133- Ultra Brite
139- Crest MultiCare Fresh Mint
140- Crest Pro-Health
144- Crest MultiCare Whitening
145- Colgate Baking Soda Whitening
146- Ultra Brite Advanced White Formula
150- Pepsodent
155- Crest Rejuvenating Effects
165- Colgate Tartar Control
175- Colgate Luminos
200 -Colgate 2-in-1 Tartar Control/White
200- FDA Recommended Limit
250- ADA Recommended Limit
There is no such toothpaste labeled 65- (Colgate Enamel Care Advance White) Please confirm, where can I purchase?
We tried searching for this paste, but were unable to find it online. This list might be out of date. You might search for a toothpaste abrasivity list with a date of this year, 2021.
How do you rate Dr. Bronner’s cinnamon toothpaste?
Great question! Thanks for asking. As there are so many different types of toothpaste brands out there, we do not have the information for all of them on hand. We will work on getting this information for you and will let you know once we do
We reached out to the company to inquire about their RDA value. The company still has not gotten back to us. This could indicate they do not know the RDA value for their toothpaste. We looked up the ingredients in the toothpaste you asked about, Dr Bronner’s cinnamon toothpaste. It is fluoride free. We do recommend that if you are choosing a fluoride-free toothpaste, you look for a toothpaste that contains xylitol. We did not see xylitol listed as an ingredient in Dr Bronner’s toothpaste. Xylitol is a sweetener (sugar alcohol) that has positive dental benefits. Xylitol has been found to be promising in reducing dental caries and reversing the process of early cavities in studies. It is a great alternative for those wishing to choose fluoride free products. Some toothpastes that are fluoride free but contain xylitol are: Tom’s of Maine fluoride free toothpastes and Squigle Tooth Builder.
We reached out to the company to inquire about their RDA value. The company still has not gotten back to us. This could indicate they do not know the RDA value for their toothpaste. We looked up the ingredients in the toothpaste you asked about, Dr Bronner’s cinnamon toothpaste. It is fluoride free. We do recommend that if you are choosing a fluoride-free toothpaste, you look for a toothpaste that contains xylitol. We did not see xylitol listed as an ingredient in Dr Bronner’s toothpaste. Xylitol is a sweetener (sugar alcohol) that has positive dental benefits. Xylitol has been found to be promising in reducing dental caries and reversing the process of early cavities in studies. It is a great alternative for those wishing to choose fluoride free products. Some toothpastes that are fluoride free but contain xylitol are: Tom’s of Maine fluoride free toothpastes and Squigle Tooth Builder.
How about Hello toothpaste? I haven’t been able to find the RDA for that brand.
Last we checked with the company, they did not give specific values. They said their toothpaste is well within the ISO standard for enamel safety (This means less than 250).
Is Crest whitening strips bad for your teeth and gums?
As long as you use them as instructed on the packaging they are not harmful to your teeth or gums.