9 Best Dog Toothpastes of 2024 – Reviews & Top Picks
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Just like humans, your four-legged companion needs to scrub up those teeth once in a while. What pet owners may not realize is a recommendation to brush your dog’s teeth two to three times per week. You can even opt for a professional cleaning once a year to maintain optimal dental care. Having a toothpaste that combats mouth bacteria in canines is exceptionally beneficial. That is especially true if your dog has a wet dog food diet, as it can cause buildup and tooth decay.
If you know all this already and are preparing to buy supplies for your dog’s dental health, we’re two steps ahead of you. We did the hard research, reviewing the best dog toothpastes we could find available on the market today. Once you pick out what would work best for your dog, you will be well on your way to teaching your dog proper mouth hygiene.
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites (2024 Update)
Rating | Image | Product | Details | |
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Best Overall | SENTRY Petrodex Enzymatic |
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Best Value | Nutri-Vet Chicken Flavored Enzymatic |
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Premium Choice | Petsmile |
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Virbac Mint |
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Vet’s Best Enzymatic |
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The 9 Best Dog Toothpastes
1. SENTRY PetrodexEnzymatic Toothpaste – Best Overall
After careful consideration, we think the SENTRY Petrodex Enzymatic Toothpaste is the best we can find. This poultry-flavored paste is sure to appeal to your pet’s taste while adequately cleaning. It doesn’t foam up, and there is no need to rinse out your dog’s mouth after use.
It will leave your pet with much fresher breath, surprisingly enough. And they may like the taste so much they won’t even fight you. It has interactive enzymes to help combat plaque and buildup on the teeth and is intended for use roughly three times per week.
The only downfall to this toothpaste is that some dogs may be sensitive to the ingredients. So, if you notice your dog has diarrhea or vomiting, discontinue use.
- Great poultry flavor
- Fights plague
- No need to rinse
- Some dogs may be sensitive to ingredients
2. Nutri-Vet Enzymatic Toothpaste – Best Value
If you want to save some extra dollars but still want your pet to freshen up, the Nutri-Vet Enzymatic Toothpaste is your best bet. Of all that we found, this is the best dog toothpaste for the money.
It’s also a non-foaming formula, so you don’t have to rinse it out. The paste is chicken-flavored to encourage your pet to allow brushing. The label shows that it is recommended for regular use, but it doesn’t specify the frequency. It helps promote good dental hygiene and freshens bad breath.
While it is flavored to appeal to a dog’s sense of taste, it may not be for every dog. The chicken flavor doesn’t translate to all canines, but we can’t speculate on the palate—just the dog’s reactions of disgust. Not all dogs are so picky. Therefore, if you want cleanliness and not costliness, give this one a try.
- Affordable
- Fights plague
- Non-foaming
- The taste may not be for all dogs
3. Petsmile Professional Dog Toothpaste – Premium Choice
If you want to pay a little extra for quality, Petsmile Professional Dog Toothpaste is a worthy addition to our top 10. It’s approved by the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC), who voted it the best for fighting plaque with regular use. Coincidentally, it is the singular toothpaste that the VOHC recommends—so that’s a great way to gauge its effectiveness.
They include what they call a scientific breakthrough ingredient called Calprox that supposedly helps prevent oral disease and decay. This is a solo application, so no toothbrush is required, but they do give you an applicator so you can apply with ease.
It contains only safe food ingredients with no harmful additive that can make your pet sick or could prove toxic. If you want to dish out the extra to have the assurance of a wonderful product that is totally safe, this is your shining winner.
- VOHC-approved
- Fights plaque much more than control brands
- Calprox active ingredient
- No harmful additives, food-safe
- Expensive
4. Virbac CET101 Mint Toothpaste
This Virbac Mint Toothpaste is sure to leave your pet’s breath fresh. It’s not just formulated for dogs. You can also use it on any of the cats in your home. The dual enzyme in the product is supposed to help breakdown the plaque buildup and serve as a prevention tool as well.
This is a non-foaming toothpaste perfectly suitable for swallowing unless it’s done in large quantities. The goal is to jumpstart a natural antibacterial effect in the mouth so that it will prevent a film from forming on the teeth.
Dogs seem to like the taste, making it easier to brush. It really does freshen the breath as well, so you won’t have to deal with odors. However, the ingredients in this can cause stomach upset or diarrhea in some dogs, depending on their sensitivities. Keep a watchful eye on any signs of upset so you can deal with any side effects as they come.
- Freshens breath
- Ignites antibacterial agents
- Tasty
- May cause adverse effects
5. Vet’s Best Enzymatic Dog Toothpaste
This Vet’s Best Enzymatic Dog Toothpaste is a gel style toothpaste that was intended to promote antibacterial and antifungal properties. It gently removes plaque or buildup to create a healthy enamel and gumline. It also has whitening agents, like baking soda, to give teeth a beautiful sheen.
It’s made with natural flavors and packed with enzymes, aloe, neem oil, and grapefruit extract. While It’s supposed to be all-natural and full of beneficial ingredients, it can cause stomach upset in some dogs. Depending on your dog’s sensitivities, it can be the opposite of healthy. It may also cause vomiting, particularly if you are using too much at once.
- Antibacterial and antifungal properties
- Baking soda for whitening
- All-natural
- Pets can be sensitive to specific ingredients
6. Arm & Hammer Dog Dental Care Toothpaste
Arm & Hammer Dog Dental Care Toothpaste is a well-deserved addition to the list. You can use this toothpaste with or without a toothbrush. If you choose not to use a toothbrush, you simply invite your dog to lick it from your finger and try to massage it onto the teeth and gums. This can help acclimate them to the habit as well.
Arm & Hammer advertises the product as being 100% safe, meaning all ingredients used should not negatively impact your dog. It freshens breath, fights buildup, and cleans the dental palette. Dog’s don’t seem to mind the taste.
While it does work sufficiently, it has a strong odor. It may not work for every dog and could potentially make bad breath worse in some canines. It may be too much for some dog owners as well, deterring you from future purchases. However, if your dog seems to like the taste, it may be worth a try for training purposes.
- Helps to train your dog to allow brushing
- 100% safe ingredients
- Has a heavy odor
7. TropiClean Fresh Breath for Dogs
Does your dog not like having its teeth brushed? We understand that! If that is the case, we recommend TropiClean Fresh Breath. This dental gel gently cleans your dog’s teeth, loosening built-up plaque and tartar and removing bacteria that cause bad breath. All you need to do is put two drops of TropiClean Fresh Breath into your dog’s mouth. And do not worry if your dog licks their mouth right after you put the gel in—the licking helps spread the gel around.
A few people have reported that this gel improves their dog’s breath, but they wanted to see bigger results with tartar and plaque buildup.
- Easy to use, no toothbrush required
- Comes in two flavors: mint and peanut butter
- Improves bad breath in most dogs
- A few people noticed only a slight improvement in plaque and tartar buildup
8. Bluestem Dog Toothpaste
This Bluestem Dog Toothpaste comes with a double-head toothbrush as well. While that is a nice addition to the product, it is quite large. If you have smaller breeds or puppies, it may not fit into the mouth properly, so the toothbrush itself may be useless.
However, the toothpaste itself is quite nice. It is a vanilla mint flavor and doesn’t have an overwhelming odor. Dogs seem to enjoy the taste without turning up their nose, so it will work for what it’s intended. You don’t have to use the toothpaste in combination with the brush. It can act on its own to reduce tartar and freshen breath.
If you are able to use the toothbrush for your pet’s mouth, it is quite handy. It reaches both the front and back of the tooth at the same time, which can help you get the job done faster.
- Double-headed brush
- Nice smell and flavor
- Not all dogs can use
- Toothbrush may be too big for mouth
9. Remineralizing Veterinarian Grade Toothpaste for Dogs
If you are looking for a plant-based remineralizing toothpaste, try Arterra’s Remineralizing Veterinarian Grade Toothpaste. This toothpaste aims to not only clean your dog’s teeth by removing bacteria but also help repair them using a nano-hydroxyapatite formula. Some breeds are more cavity-prone, so it is important to maintain regular dental care. To see the best results from this toothpaste, it is recommended to use it three times a week.
This toothpaste is a bit on the expensive side, though. If you have a few dogs, the cost of using it could add up.
- Made with nano-hydroxyapatite formula
- Plant-based peanut butter flavor
- Helps repair teeth
- Only one flavor is available
- A bit on the costly side
Summary
Purchasing the right toothpaste for your pet may seem like a more manageable task now. We still stand firm in our number one choice. If you want fresh breath, great flavor, and optimal tartar and plaque control—we strongly recommend the SENTRY Petrodex Enzymatic Toothpaste. Your pet will improve on their overall dental hygiene, and it’s not outrageously priced.
If you want the best quality while saving as much money as possible, Nutri-Vet Enzymatic Toothpaste has all of what our first selection offers at a lower cost. Rarely, a dog may not prefer the chicken taste, but with as little as you’ll pay upfront, it may be worth the investment.
If you want your dog to have the best dental care and don’t mind the higher cost, VOHC-approved Petsmile Professional Dog Toothpaste is the cream of the crop. Not only does it have highly accredited backing for being a successful product, but it also contains its own special ingredient: calprox. If you’re willing to pay, it’s definitely worth your cash.
After working your way through these reviews, we hope we made your job a little easier. Now, your pet can have a fresh, healthy set of canines—and you don’t have to worry about yours.