That’s only because it’s rather expensive to get such approval. Even without that official seal, however, rest assured that today’s entry will not promote tooth decay. (We are flossers, after all.)

The American Dental Association has been pasting its Seal of Approval on products since 1931. Even though each manufacturer pays a fee when applying for the Seal, there’s no guarantee the product will pass muster. The fee covers the extensive testing the ADA performs on the product to make sure it lives up to the manufacturer’s claims. In fact, about one-third of the submitted products are rejected.

Say you’ve invented a new tooth whitener that you believe will cause the glare from your smile to interfere with the Hubble Telescope. You’ll fill out an application and send the fee, along with samples of the product, the advertising claims you hope to make, and supporting scientific data to back up those claims. The ADA studies your scientific material and runs independent tests of their own. If you receive the ADA Seal, you’re allowed to display it on your product’s packaging and in advertisements.

Consumers are urged to remember that the Seal doesn’t mean the ADA endorses any particular product; it simply means that they’ve found the product lives up to the claims made by the manufacturer.