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Do you have a favorite toothpaste?

. Perhaps it claims to relieve tooth sensitivity. While these claims may be true, or should be per advertising regulations, few toothpaste manufacturers reveal the truth about the abrasiveness of their products. Researchers have come up with a new way to evaluate toothpastes, so consumers can know more about what they’re putting in their mouths and on their teeth.

In terms of competing products, does your preferred toothpaste clean as well?  If you have sensitive teeth, will it make brushing more comfortable for you or ultimately cause more harm than good?

Abrasivity of Popular Toothpastes

Cleaning particles are present – and crucial – in all toothpastes. These particles get your teeth clean. But it’s possible that a toothpaste can be too abrasive and can actually harm your teeth.

How abrasiveness effects your teeth depends on the hardness of your tooth enamel, the amount of pressure you use when brushing your teeth, and the amount of abrasive additives in your toothpaste. Testers have measured abrasivity by RDA (radioactive dentin abrasion) value, and the abrasiveness of toothpaste can be measured on a scale of 30 to over 200.

The abrasive effect of a particular toothpaste depends on the hardness of tooth enamel, pressure of brushing, and the amount and particle size of the abrasive additives the paste contains. Abrasivity is measured as the RDA value (radioactive dentin abrasion), and it ranges from 30 to over 200. This value is determined through a complex process that involves testers brushing radioactively marked dentin samples. The abraded material is then measured via the resultant radiation intensity of the toothpaste slurry. Not all experts agree on the validity of RDA values, as test results have been known to vary partly from lab to lab.*

How Common Toothpastes Stack Up for RDA Value

The higher the RDA value, the more abrasive the toothpaste. Below is a list of common toothpastes and how they rate on the abrasiveness scale. The ADA recommends a limit of 250, while the FDA recommends a limit of 200.

35 Arm & Hammer Dental Care
53 Rembrandt Original
68 Colgate Regular
79 Sensodyne
80 AIM
80 Close-Up
94 Rembrandt Plus
95 Crest Regular (possibly 99)
113 Aquafresh Whitening
150 Pepsodent
200 Colgate 2-in-1 Tartar Control/Whitening or Icy Blast/Whitening (given as 190-200)

Source:

Dentistry Consultation

For more information about tooth sensitivity, or choosing the best oral homecare products for your mouth’s needs, contact our Corona dental office. You can schedule a consultation with Dr. Brian Archung by calling (951) 273-9580. We serve patients in the 92879 area and surrounding communities.

*Source: Medical News Today