The invention concerns the use, as thickening or texturing agent in toothpaste compositions, of a highly dispersible precipitated silica having a pH of 3.5 to 9, a DOP oil absorption higher than 200 ml/g, a CTAB specific surface area from 70 to 250 m2, a median diameter of at least 20 m determined by ultrasound-free laser diffraction, a residual anion rate, expressed in sodium sulphate, less than 5 wt. %.