A whitening dentifrice composition, free from peroxide whitening agents, includes a blue coloring agent, a zinc core shell silica (Zn-CSS) particle, and an orally acceptable vehicle including a non-aqueous solvent and water. The blue coloring agent includes at least one of a blue pigment and a blue dye and has a blue to blue-violet color with a hue angle in the CIELAB system ranging from 200 degrees to 320 degrees. The Zn-CSS particle includes a silica core, and a surface of the silica core etched with a metal silicate, which is a silicate of zinc ion and optionally a monovalent metal ion.
