Writer
Milly Ahlquist
Everyone likes a dazzling smile, and so modern toothpaste is made with small polishing particles which help to scrub our teeth clean of stains. But too much of a good thing could affect your dentin: the layer of bony tissue which sits beneath the much stronger enamel and forms the bulk of a tooth.
Relative Dentin Abrasivity testing gives manufacturers the opportunity to assess the level of stain removal and tooth whitening against potential damage to dentin, which can become sensitive if exposed to too much polishing.
Abrasivity is the measure of the action of the toothpaste - or in our case tabs - on the surface of your teeth. These products use sodium bicarbonate to gently polish the teeth. Sodium bicarbonate also increases the alkalinity levels inside our mouths, which helps keep the breath fresh. Dental experts tested each tab on extracted human teeth to measure the level of abrasivity on the teeth - and this in vitro test was performed in accordance with International Standard ISO11609.
Publishing the results allows you to make an informed choice about which toothy tabs and powders suit your lifestyle and your mouth.
The RDA scale rates dental products numerically: the higher the number, the higher the abrasivity.
0-70 Low level of abrasivity - gives a gentle polish.
70-100 Medium level of abrasivity - gives a medium weight polish.
100-150 High level of abrasivity - more intensive polish.
Over 150 Very high level of abrasivity - can be harmful.
Lush toothy tabs were graded accordingly and results can be seen below.
Product RDA test score Category
Miles Of Smiles 43 Low abrasivity
Boom! 96 Medium abrasivity
Limelight 64 Low abrasivity
Dirty toothy tabs 43 Low abrasivity
We have also recently launched toothpaste jellies in our Liverpool and Shinjuku stores, a new creation that combines more traditional ingredients with the classic texture of toothpaste and a healthy dose of innovation. Each of these toothpaste jellies are classed as low abrasivity, so will give a gentle polish to the teeth.