Is Your Toothpaste Too Abrasive?

Regular tooth brushing prevents cavities, tooth decay and gum disease which if left, can lead to serious health problems. However, if you are experiencing tooth sensitivity it may be your toothpaste! Toothpastes contain varying amounts of abrasive particles, which in combination with the toothbrush, have the potential to wear tooth enamel. The abrasivity of your toothpaste is measured as relative dentin abrasivity (RDA). The American Dental Association (ADA) determined that, ideally, the RDA of a toothpaste should be 70 or below. Outside of brushing with plain water, the next lowest RDA value of 7 came in as, surprisingly, plain baking soda. The chart listed below shows popular tooth paste brands and their relative RDA values.