Must-Have Pet Dental Care Products!
A list of veterinary-approved dental care products that reduce plaque and fight disease
If you read my articles on periodontal disease and implementing a pet dental health plan earlier this month, you probably know by now that you need to brush your pet’s teeth every day.
But which toothpaste should you use? And what other products are available? Is there anything else you can do to help your pet?
You’ve come to the right place.
Today there are an endless number of products that are marketed for pet dental care, but not all products are created equal.
Although most products are safe, they aren’t all effective. To make your search easier, i’ve compiled a list of my favorite dental care products for cats and dogs. Unless otherwise stated, all of the below products have been approved by the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) to reduce dental plaque and disease.
I’ll start with products for cats, so if you’re a dog parent, you can scroll past this section.
Feline Dental Products
Toothpaste for cats
Virbac C.E.T. Enzymatic Toothpaste
This actually isn’t the toothpaste recommended by the VOHC, but it is my favorite product for both cats and dogs.
It has dual-enzyme action ingredients that work to breakdown bacterial biofilm and reduce buildup of dental plaque. It comes in a variety of flavors to make it more palatable for your pet. Your cat’s preferences may vary, but I typically recommend the chicken flavor for cats.
Toothbrush for cats
Jasper 360 Degree Finger Toothbrush
The finger toothbrush typically works better than a handle toothbrush for cats and the Jasper 360 degree is my favorite one.
It has bristles of variable length around the entire outside of the brush, increasing your chance of getting into those hard-to-reach spots.
Topical Products for Cats
Healthy Mouth Topical Oral Gel for Cats
If training your cat for teeth brushing just isn’t happening, you can squirt this gel onto their gums every day to help fight inflammation and buildup of dental plaque.
I like this better than the topical spray for cats, because cats are pretty averse to the “spray” action.
Virbac Hexagel
This product isn’t approved for daily use in reducing plaque formation, but I still prescribe it regularly — particularly for pre- and post-operative use.
I will prescribe it for cats in the days leading up to their dental to reduce infection and inflammation where the alternative (brushing) would be painful. For a similar reason, I use it after a dental to support healing and kill bacteria before brushing can be started.
Dental Wipes for Cats
Dechra Vetradent Dental Wipes
Dental wipes work in two ways: through the manual removal of tartar from the teeth and through the ingredients left behind that breakdown bacterial biofilm. This is more effective than gels and sprays.
Food and Water Additives for Cats
Healthy Mouth Water Additive for Cats
This is the only VOHC-approved water additive for cats and is clinically proven to help reduce plaque formation. Must be used daily!
Pro-Den PlaqueOff Powder (food additive)
This dental powder has been shown in clinical studies to reduce plaque buildup and bad breath.
In order to be effective, this must also be used every day. Results are typically seen within 3-8 weeks of continual use.
Dental Food for Cats
Royal Canin Feline Dental Diet
My favorite of all the dental diets — this diet is dually formulated to prevent urinary stone formation, another common issue in cats. I also find this option to be the most palatable of the dental diets. Yum!
Dental Treats for Cats
Greenies Feline Dental Treats
If your cat refuses a dental diet or they need to be on a special diet for other health reasons, dental treats are an option, but they should really be your last resort (if none of the above are possible for whatever reason).
Many cats struggle with obesity, so I don’t love the idea of giving them treats. But if you’re going to give them treats anyway, this is the one. Greenies have a unique shape that helps to scrape off plaque as your cat chews. They also come in every flavor imaginable, so picky eaters and allergic cats are covered.
Have a question about one of these products or looking for a suitable alternative? Drop me a comment!
Canine Dental Products
Toothpaste for Dogs
Virbac C.E.T. Enzymatic Toothpaste
An absolute must-have in your bathroom cabinet!
This is my all-around favorite product for both cats and dogs. It has dual-enzyme action ingredients that work to break down bacterial biofilm and reduce buildup of dental plaque. Comes in a variety of flavors, but I find that dogs like the liver flavor best.
Toothbrush for Dogs
Jasper 360 Degree Finger Toothbrush
I typically recommend a finger toothbrush for use in puppies or those starting to train their dog to accept dental brushing.
Jasper’s 360 degree finger brush is my favorite one on the market. It has bristles of variable length surrounding the entire outside of the brush, increasing your chance of getting those hard-to-reach spots.
For large breed dogs, I typically recommend to switch over to a flathead toothbrush after training to ensure you reach the back of the mouth. But if your dog only accepts the finger brush, that’s fine by me.
Flathead Toothbrush
Any flathead soft-bristled toothbrush approved for use by your national dental association (such as the ADA) is also suitable for use in dogs.
Hard bristles can be painful and damaging to the mouth, especially if your dog already has gingivitis (and most of them do). And if your dog has calculus buildup, they need a professional dental cleaning anyway — no hard-bristled toothbrush is going to cut it. Dual headed toothbrushes are my preference for dogs because it allows different options for getting into those tiny deep grooves in the teeth.
Topical Products for Dogs
For use in dogs that absolutely refuse brushing, or as a supplement to daily brushing. Just like brushing, these only work when used every day!
Healthy Mouth Topical Spray for Dogs
This can be sprayed over your dog’s teeth daily following mealtime. In clinical studies, this helped to reduce plaque buildup by up to 77%! Good stuff.
Healthy Mouth Topical Gel for Dogs
Topical gel is a bit less effective at reducing plaque formation, but is also effective when used every day. This prevents an alternative mode of application for dogs that don’t like being sprayed in the mouth.
Virbac Hexagel
This product isn’t approved as a daily tool for plaque reduction, but I regularly prescribe it for pre- and post-operative use.
I use it in the days leading up to the professional dental cleaning to reduce infection and inflammation where the alternative (brushing) would be painful. For a similar reason, I use it after a dental to support healing and kill bacteria before brushing can be started again.
Dental Wipes for Dogs
Dechra Vetradent Dental Wipes
This is the same product I recommended for use in cats.
Dental wipes work in two ways: through the manual removal of tartar from the teeth and through the ingredients left behind that breakdown bacterial biofilm. These are typically more effective than gels and sprays.
Food and Water Additives for Dogs
These additives can be used in dogs that absolutely refuse for you to come near their mouth at all, OR as a supplement for daily brushing (recommended!).
Healthy Mouth Water Additive for Dogs
Healthy Mouth has a variety of water additives approved for plaque reduction in dogs — some of which also contain ingredients to promote joint health and nutrition.
Vetradent Water Additive (powder or liquid)
Another good water additive — this works by altering the environment of the mouth, breaking down bacterial biofilm, and reducing plaque and tartar formation. You only need a very small amount for it to be effective, but again, it must be used every day.
Pro-Den PlaqueOff Powder (food additive)
This is clinically proven to reduce plaque and bad breath when used daily. Results are typically seen within 3-8 weeks. There are two different companies selling a similar product (CEVA and SwedenCare) and both are effective!
Dental Chews for Dogs
Greenies Dental Chews (especially weight management!)
I love Greenies dental chews for dogs. They’re offered in a variety of sizes and flavors, and with different formulations for your dog’s specific needs (such as weight loss or senior). Because many dogs are overweight, I often recommend the weight-management.
Pedigree Dentastix Advanced
Dentastix are another great clinically proven dental chew. Also available in different sizes and flavors. I’m generally not a huge fan of treats, but this is one that I give my dog every day.
Virbac C.E.T. Veggiedent chews
If you can’t tell by now, I love Virbac’s dental products.
These chews are from the same product line as the toothpaste and also have enzymatic tartar-fighting ingredients. They’re also available in different sizes and flavors, and some varieties also have ingredients to support joint health or reduce stress.
Dental Food for Dogs
Royal Canin Veterinary Care Nutrition Canine Dental Food
There are many canine dental diets on the market but the one by Royal Canin is my favorite.
This is the most palatable of the big commercial brands. Different formulations available for large and small dogs. If you have a small dog without other issues, this is a great diet option.
Have a question about any of these products or looking for an alternative? Drop me a comment!
Note: depending on your region, the appearance of the product label or website may vary, which is why I haven’t included links. Let me know if you’re having trouble finding the right one.
Another important note: all of the above are clinically-proven veterinary-approved products, but that doesn’t mean that any given product is right for your specific pet. You should always check with your vet before starting a new product.
And just once more for the people in the back — there is no alternative as effective as daily brushing! All of the alternative products help to reduce disease, but if your pet lets you brush, you’ve really got to be doing that every day.
I believe in you, plaque-fighters!!!!!
Happy Pet Dental Health Month!
Dr. Sami