The present disclosure is directed to an animal food product for promoting dental efficacy including a hydrolyzed protein including one or more amino groups, and a high amylopectin content starch including one or more reducing sugars wherein the one or more amino groups in the hydrolyzed protein are covalently bonded to the one or more reducing sugars in the high amylopectin content starch. Methods of preparing the animal food product and using the animal food product to promote dental efficacy, such as teeth-cleaning efficacy in an animal are also provided.
