You have probably seen the American Dental Association (ADA) seal of acceptance label on hygiene products, but you may not know what it signifies. A product must live up to a set of standards for the seal to be displayed on the package. However, the seal is not mandatory; companies choose whether to have their product screened to see if it meets the required qualifications.

What are Some Products With the ADA Seal?

Obviously, dental hygiene products such as toothpaste, dental floss, mouthwash, and white strips are many of the products that contain the seal. However, the ADA also awards the seal to other everyday items. Water filters, electric toothbrushes, and mouthguards for oral protection during sports can have the label as well.

What are the Qualifications?

Is the product reasonably safe? The product must past various tests that examine its toxicology as well as effectiveness. The examination includes a list of active ingredients and other contents. The company must also present scientifically backed evidence on any additional experimentation they have conducted on the product. ADA staff further analyze the results from the examinations. 

• How is the product made?Along with determining the product composition, guidelines are set to dictate the manufacturing process. These are in place to make sure that the process does not compromise the composition of the product to maintain purity.
• What is the product’s name? The name on the market for the product must be in coordination with the Federal Food Drug and Cosmetic Act guidelines. Furthermore, any claims in advertising made by the company must be able to be supported by the clinical and laboratory examinations done on the product.

What is the Process of Obtaining the ADA Seal?

Submit the product application. The period to submit an application for the ADA Seal is generally before mid-November each year.

1. 1. 1. Pay participation fee. Obtaining an ADA seal is a voluntary process, so to go through with the program, a company must pay a fee to apply. There are both submission and maintenance fees for the program.

1. 1. 2. Product examination and testing. As mentioned in the previous section, the product must be put through a series of rigorous tests to determine if it meets the requirements of the ADA seal.

1. 3. Put the ADA seal to use. Once the product examination process is finished, the company applying will receive a notice from the ADA Council of Scientific Affairs regarding the status of the product. There is some paperwork involved, regarding the licensing agreement with the seal. Then, the seal can be used for a period of up to five years, assuming the product maintains the ADA requirements.

The ADA seal can be a valuable reference for deciding which products you buy based on their safety and quality. You always want to keep your teeth protected and clean, and products brandishing the ADA seal, indicate that they can live up to your health and safety standards.

Questions about a dental product? Ask us for help!