Silica particles having ad50 median particle size of at least 6µm, aratio of (d90-d10)/d50 from 1.1 to 2.4, a RDA at 20 wt. % loading from 40 to 200, and a sphericity factor (S80) of at least 0.9,are disclosed, as well as methods for making these silica particles, and dentifrice compositions containing the silica particles.