evidence: For more than 125 years, the ADA has promoted safety and efficacy of dental products. This is part of its mission to advance oral health. As early as 1866, an ADA committee prepared a statement on dentifrices (toothpaste) that questioned whether the extravagant claims made on behalf of patient tooth powders and other dental nostrums of the time were just "an imposition on the public". The end result was a simple formula for a tooth powder made from chalk, soap and various herbal ingredients. Of course this was years before anyone knew about the benefits of adding fluoride to toothpaste to prevent cavities.