Worried About Your Enamel? A Dentist Says You Should Be Using This Type Of Toothpaste

Regular coffee drinking, enjoyment of soft drinks or starchy foods, well-earned age or even history of an eating disorder may have left you with weakened enamel or stained teeth.
Your first impulse may be to brush your teeth more: That’s a good thing. But your regular toothpaste may be doing more harm than good to your enamel if it’s too abrasive.
For guidance on enamel-safe toothpastes, doctors utilize an list — a kind of cheat sheet developed by the American Dental Association — that ranks toothpastes according to their abrasivity on dentin. It’s called the Toothpaste Abrasiveness Ranked By Relative Dentin Abrasivity (RDA) list.
Dentin is the soft layer of tooth structure underneath your enamel, explained New York-based dentist Dr. Azadeh Akhavan. “If [dentin] is exposed to very abrasive toothpastes day after day, it will wear down … and may introduce surface roughness to enamel,” she tells HuffPost, which can result in plaque buildup, staining and sensitivity.
“I would recommend toothpaste in the low abrasivity category for people with weak enamel,” Akhavan wrote.“High abrasivity toothpastes would potentially damage and wear the person’s enamel until the second layer of tooth structure [dentin] is exposed, leading to sensitivity and cavities.”
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The RDA chart orders pastes from 0 to 200, with 0 being least and 200 being most abrasive; generally, 0-70 is considered low abrasivity, Akhavan noted.
To make things easier for you, we’ve rounded up the toothpastes that the RDA list categorized as low in abrasiveness. Read on for the ones that made the cut — and for more advice from Akhavan.
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As popular as whitening toothpastes are, many of them have high RDA values due to “additives that work to ‘scrub’ stains off teeth,” Akhavan cautioned. “The toothpaste may be too hard on teeth with weak enamel or exposed dentin” if ingredients like hydrated silica, magnesium carbonate, hydrated aluminum oxide, calcium carbonate or sodium hexametaphosphate are near the top of the ingredient list.
However, that doesn’t mean you have to write off whitening toothpaste completely: “Baking soda is great for removing stains on teeth,” she noted. According to Akhavan, you can opt for a low RDA value toothpaste that contains baking soda, or even sprinkle some baking soda onto your toothbrush.
Based on Akhavan’s advice, we think this Arm & Hammer toothpaste is a great option. It’s low abrasive, with an RDA value of 42, and incorporates baking soda into its formula for gentle whitening action.
For folks with weak enamel, the buck doesn’t stop at choosing the right toothpaste. “In addition to being cognizant of how abrasive your toothpaste is (avoiding abrasive whitening, tartar control, charcoal, etc.), it’s important to monitor the softness of your toothbrush bristles — soft or extra-soft toothbrushes are best,” Akhavan emphasized. “Also make sure you are not brushing with too much force — if your toothbrush bristles splay … you are brushing too hard. Toothbrush bristles should always be upright.”
Based off Akhavan’s recommendation, we think these soft Mouthwatchers toothbrushes will serve you well. Designed for sensitive teeth and gums, they sport a base of soft bristles and a top layer of thin “flossing” bristles to help clean gently into grooves and gums.
I finally tried these after having my eye on them for months, and they’ve proven a clear new staple for me — I can’t foresee returning to my old brush anytime soon. I’m careful about my enamel, and these brushes have managed to make my teeth look whiter and my plaque less visible with only gentle use. Somehow, they’ve even made me enjoy brushing my teeth more, which encourages me to actually follow through on the task.
German brand Weleda is generally famous for its ultra-nourishing Skin Food cream, but its toothpastes are also noteworthy for anyone looking for less abrasive oral hygiene options. Weleda’s salt toothpaste has one of the lowest RDA values you’ll find, with an abrasiveness level of 15. Note: It does not contain fluoride.
With a low-abrasive RDA value of 44, the gentle yet hardworking Squigle toothpaste has a formula rich in xylitol that’ll help stop tooth decay and combat plaque buildup (which in turn, according to the brand, helps prevent canker sores).
Plus, it’s made without potentially irritating sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), which is an ingredient that can prolong oral healing if you struggle with mouth ulcers, according to research. SLS can also trigger irritation in sensitive skin, such as rosacea, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.
Another low abrasivity Arm & Hammer option, this paste has an RDA value of 52 and is designed to improve gum health while cutting down on plaque bacteria. Plus, if Amazon reviews are any indication, it’s extremely popular, with 15,000 5-star ratings from users.
Sensodyne Pronamel’s toothpastes hold an low abrasive RDA value of 34, and the brand’s daily protection paste is formulated to strengthen enamel while guarding against cavities. This version is also thoughtfully formulated without SLS.
Another gentle Weleda hard-hitter, the brand’s calendula-flavored toothpaste has an RDA of 45. The formula’s calendula is meant to soothe sensitive gums; it’s also sugar- and peppermint-free!
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With an RDA of 63, this whitening toothpaste contains fluoride and dental peroxide to gently remove stains while helping to strengthen enamel.
Colgate’s sensitive protection toothpaste holds an RDA of 63, and works to calm tooth sensitivity while fighting against cavities, plaque and gum irritation.
This kid’s gel paste from Weleda gently cleans young teeth with essential oils that’ll appeal to childlike tastes. With an RDA of 40, the sugar-free gel is actually designed for first teeth!