An abrasive, amorphous precipitated silica is provided that provides excellent abrasive performance, but also has a relatively high degree of transmittance, and an index of refraction that is sufficiently low to allow it to be a component of a transparent toothpaste composition having a relatively high concentration of water. The amorphous precipitated silica composition has a refractive index of less than about 1.4387, a light transmittance of greater than about 48%; and a Brass Einlehner abrasion value of greater than about 5 mg loss/100,000 rev. A dentifrice having a haze value of less than about 70 may be prepared using this abrasive, amorphous silica.