ADA Seal of Acceptance

The ADA Seal of Acceptance has been the leading mark of dental product safety and efficacy for more than 90 years. Since 1931, the program has evaluated OTC oral care products, which must undergo independent laboratory or clinical testing to demonstrate they meet requirements developed by the ADA Council on Scientific Affairs and live up to the specific Seal claims on their packages.

More than 400 products have earned the Seal, including various brands of interdental cleaners, mouth rinses, toothbrushes, toothpaste, sugarless chewing gum and more.

Not every dental product submitted to the program qualifies for the Seal. A product submission must include data from clinical and/or laboratory studies that demonstrate safety and efficacy according to product category requirements developed by the ADA Council on Scientific Affairs.

If all requirements are met, the ADA Seal is awarded for a five-year period. If the composition of an Accepted product changes during the five-year agreement, the company must submit updated chemical and safety data before it is marketed with the Seal. The Council may require additional testing if changes potentially affect the product’s safety or efficacy.

Review the ADA Seal category requirements.

Products that earn the ADA Seal of Acceptance undergo a rigorous review by members of the ADA Council on Scientific Affairs. The Council evaluates each submission to ensure it meets strict product category requirements and may consult independent experts in fields such as dental materials, microbiology, pharmacology, toxicology, and chemistry. Only products that demonstrate safety and effectiveness through this scientific review are awarded the ADA Seal.

Products that earn the ADA Seal of Acceptance must display the ADA Seal logo on their packaging in accordance with ADA Seal Brand Standards. The Seal is accompanied by an approved statement that identifies the specific product benefits evaluated and accepted by the ADA Council on Scientific Affairs.

These statements help consumers quickly understand a product’s ADA Seal-accepted claims, support dental professionals in recommending trusted products, and ensure manufacturers communicate ADA Seal-accepted claims clearly and consistently.

In 2016, the ADA updated the Seal statement to a shorter, more consumer-friendly format that now appears on many accepted products.

The ADA Seal of Acceptance helps people make confident, informed decisions about oral care products. When a product displays the ADA Seal, it means the American Dental Association has reviewed scientific evidence to determine that the product meets rigorous standards for safety and effectiveness.

The Seal serves as a trusted resource across the oral health community. It helps consumers identify products that can support good oral health, gives dental professionals confidence when recommending products to patients, and provides manufacturers with credible, third-party recognition of their product’s quality and performance.

Each year, the ADA receives inquiries about the Seal program, its evaluation process, and products that have earned the Seal. By maintaining rigorous scientific standards and providing reliable information, the ADA helps keep oral health at the forefront of public awareness and supports better oral care decisions for everyone.