Disclosed are methods for reducing the staining of dentifrice composition containing stannous comprising administering to a subject the dentifrice composition. The dentifrice composition is a dual phase dentifrice and is contained in physically separated compartments of a dentifrice dispenser. The first dentifrice composition comprises an effective amount of one or more linear polyphosphates having an average chain length of about 4 or more and has a total water content of up to about 20%. The second dentifrice composition comprises an effective amount of stannous ions. The molar ratio of polyphosphate anion to stannous ion is from about 0.2:1 to about 5:1 and the efficacy of the stannous ion in the dentifrice is not reduced by the polyphosphate. The dentifrice composition may alternatively be a single phase dentifrice. The single phase dentifrice will comprise an effective amount of one or more linear polyphosphates having an average chain length of about 4 or more and an effective amount of a stannous ion. The single phase dentifrice has a total water content of up to about 20%, the stannous ion is not delivered from stannous fluoride, a molar ratio of polyphosphate anion to stannous ion is from about 0.2:1 to about 5:1, and the efficacy of the stannous ion in the dentifrice is not reduced by the polyphosphate.