Today there are a number of dog foods and treats promoted as beneficial for dental health. Some sport the Veterinary Oral Health Council seal (VOHC Accepted) for having passed a rigorous product test. Others use the limited claims that are allowed: "cleanse, freshen or whiten teeth." Regardless of the claim or labeling, a "dental product" is limited to the foods' "mechanical (e.g., abrasive) action" on the teeth (AAFCO, 2012). No references to chemical or antimicrobial additives are permitted without prior Food and Drug Administration approval. Despite this, most of the products with a dental message depend on food additives to enhance the "mechanical action." Generally these are mineral sequestering agents-a leading one being sodium hexametaphosphate (SHMP).
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