Relative Dentin Abrasivity

• We are currently evaluating the abrasivity of common toothpastes.
• The abrasives in toothpaste can wear away tooth structure
• Once the enamel is worn, the next layer is called dentin. Dentin wears 7x faster than enamel
• Enamel and dentinal abrasion can cause sensitivity in many patients
• Each toothpaste is given a value known as RDA (relative dentin abrasivity)
• RDA of 50 and under is desirable, but choices are limited
• It is difficult to find out the RDA of toothpaste, as some companies do not disclose this information
• We have a list of some toothpastes and their value

***Recently, we have begun to recommend patients use low abrasion toothpaste. We feel many types of toothpaste are very abrasive and can cause damage to the gum tissue and root surface.  Although this is new information, believe it to be true. In the event we are wrong, no additional harm will come from using this protocol as all recommended toothpastes contain fluoride.***

Relative Dentin Abrasivity (RDA) for Toothpaste