11 Best Tartar Removal Products for Cats – 2024 Reviews & Top Picks

You probably realize that it’s important to keep your cat’s teeth and gums healthy, but many people underestimate just how important it is. Dental disease can be painful for cats due to the increased risk of abscesses, gum sensitivity and bleeding, and difficulty eating. It can also lead to serious medical conditions for cats when the bacteria built up in the mouth gets into the bloodstream, leading to heart, liver, brain, and kidney infections and diseases.

Preventing tartar and plaque buildup in your cat’s mouth is the best way to prevent dental disease and the risks associated with it. These reviews are the best products on the market to help you prevent and remove mild tartar buildup in your cat’s mouth.

*Please note that if your cat has significant tartar and plaque buildup or damaged teeth or gums, you should check with your veterinarian before attempting to use any products to remove tartar. Sometimes, over-the-counter products just won’t cut it and your cat may need a professional dental cleaning under sedation.

A Quick Look at Our Favorite Choices in 2024

The 11 Best Tartar Removal Products for Cats

1. Vetoquinol Enzadent Enzymatic Toothbrush Kit – Best Overall

The best overall tartar removal product for cats is the Vetoquinol Enzadent Enzymatic Toothbrush Kit, which includes a tube of poultry-flavored toothpaste and a double-ended toothbrush to fit multiple pet mouth sizes. This product uses enzymes to help control bacteria and tartar buildup not just on the teeth but also along the gumline. Combined with physical toothbrushing, you can rest assured that your cat’s teeth are getting clean.

The poultry flavor is palatable for all cats that like poultry or meat flavors, but pickier cats may not appreciate it. The 3.2-ounce tube of toothpaste should last your cat a long time, and there are replacement toothbrushes available if you need them. This product is budget friendly and can help reduce the need for a veterinary dental cleaning for your cat. It will not remove severe tartar buildup from your cat’s teeth, but it can remove mild to moderate tartar and prevent further buildup.

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2. Greenies Feline Adult Dental Cat Treats – Best Value

For tight budgets, the Greenies Feline Adult Dental Cat Treats are the best tartar removal products for cats for the money. These salmon-flavored treats are available in four package sizes and keep your cat’s teeth clean through their crunchy texture. They are able to knock mild tartar loose from the teeth and keep them clean of new tartar buildup. There are less than 2 calories in every treat, making these a good option even for cats that are overweight as long as they are given in moderation. They contain no artificial flavors, preservatives, or fillers, and they contain added vitamins and minerals to maximize overall health support.

These are not a good option for moderate or severe tartar and they clean teeth less effectively than brushing does.

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3. 1-TDC Periodontal & Joint Health Supplement – Premium Choice

The 1-TDC Periodontal & Joint Health Supplement is the premium choice for tartar removal in cats. These gel capsules are administered by opening the cap and spreading the gel onto your cat’s gums. 1-TDC is a fatty acid that supports gum health through lubricating the teeth and gums and creating an environment that isn’t friendly to tartar buildup. It has the double impact of supporting joint health, making this a great option if your cat is a senior. For ease of application, this can also be administered by squeezing the gel directly onto your cat’s paws or nose to lick off. Due to the soothing and lubricating properties, many people report this being successful in reducing stomatitis symptoms, so check with your vet to see if it’s appropriate for your cat with stomatitis. The beef tallow in this product makes the flavor highly palatable to cats and dogs alike. This can help reduce mild to moderate tartar but is not likely to significantly improve the condition of severe tartar.

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4. Sentry Petrodex Veterinary Strength Dental Kit – Best for Kittens

If you want a product that keeps teeth clean and helps introduce your kitten to teeth cleaning, you may like the Sentry Petrodex Veterinary Strength Dental Kit. This kit includes a 2.5-ounce tube of enzymatic toothpaste, a toothbrush, and a finger brush. It’s designed specifically for cats, so the toothbrush and finger brush are appropriately sized for cats, and the finger brush is a great option for kittens. The malt flavor is tasty to most cats and the combination of enzymatic cleaning that produces hydrogen peroxide and tooth brushing can help reduce mild to moderate tartar, although this will not remove severe tartar buildup.

Even though hydrogen peroxide is created by the enzymes in the toothpaste, this formula is free of foaming properties, so it shouldn’t bother your kitten.

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5. VetriScience Perio Support Powder Dental Supplement

The VetriScience Perio Support Powder Dental Supplement contains zeolites, which help clean your cat’s teeth through abrasion, and probiotics, which support overall immunity and a healthy bacterial balance in the mouth. It also contains cranberry, which functions as an antioxidant that supports gum health and reduces bacteria growth, taurine and zinc, which work together to improve gum health and prevent plaque and tartar formation, and yucca schidigera extract, which inhibits enzymes that work to break down gum tissue.

Just a sprinkle on your cat’s food with every meal helps this product ensure gum and tooth health and reduce mild tartar buildup. The flavor is primarily vegetable fats, which is palatable to many cats. However, this product contains anise, which has a strong smell that may be unappealing to your cat. Some people report finding the smell intolerable.

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6. ProDen PlaqueOff Powder

The ProDen PlaqueOff Powder is made from 100% kelp pulled from the cold, pure waters of the Scandinavian North Atlantic. It works systemically by forming a specific compound that is absorbed by the body and excreted in the saliva, breaking down bacterial biofilm and tartar on the teeth. It’s free of additives, artificial preservatives, gluten, and added sugar. The kelp flavor of this supplement seems palatable to most cats and this product is administered by sprinkling on your cat’s food with meals.  This is a good option for mild to moderate tartar, but it is unlikely to make a significant difference for severe tartar. It may take 3–8 weeks to see the effects of this supplement.

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7. Wysong DentaTreat Food Supplement

The Wysong DentaTreat Food Supplement is a powder supplement that uses multiple cheeses for flavor and contains no artificial colors or flavors. It’s available in two package sizes and supports gum and tooth health through abrasion, probiotic support, and remineralizing teeth. It works to prevent tooth decay, gingivitis, and the bacteria that cause bad breath and can lead to tartar buildup. It can be administered on your cat’s food, although it’s recommended to allow your cat to eat the powder as a treat to maximize its contact with the gums and teeth. It can also be used as a tooth powder that is brushed on with a toothbrush. Although it contains multiple cheeses, some people report their pickier cats refuse to eat this supplement. This product sells at a premium price, so it may not be best for all budgets.

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8. Petsmile Professional London Broil Flavor Pet Toothpaste

The Petsmile Professional London Broil Flavor Pet Toothpaste is easily applied to your cat’s gums with an applicator. Your cat then licks the toothpaste around, making this a completely brush-free formula. This toothpaste is accepted by the VOHC for its efficacy and it works by dissolving the protein that plaque, tartar, bacteria, and stains stick to. It can be effective for mild to moderate tartar buildup and helps prevent further buildup. Although the flavor is London broil, this toothpaste is 100% vegan, making it safe for pets with animal protein allergies.

Some people note that their cats seem to recognize that this product is meat-free, though, and may not find it as palatable as actual meat flavors. This is slightly more expensive than other comparable products.

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9. John Paul Pet Tooth & Gum Wipes

The John Paul Pet Tooth & Gum Wipes are a good option for mild tartar buildup. There are 45 wipes in a container, and they use a combination of peppermint flavor and baking soda to scrub tartar from your cat’s teeth while freshening the breath. These wipes are cruelty-free and are a great option for cats that won’t tolerate a toothbrush or that have small mouths, like kittens. You don’t have to scrub hard for these to work, just simply wipe the teeth in circular motions to ensure they are clean. If your cat is prone to bite attempts during tooth care, these may not be a good option for you since they won’t offer the protection that a toothbrush or finger brush does. These wipes are not effective for moderate to severe tartar, and they will work best if used in conjunction with another oral care product.

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10. Dr. Gary’s Best Breed Dental Care

Dr. Gary’s Best Breed Dental Care is a powder that contains zeolites, cranberry extra, yucca schidigera extract, taurine, zinc, and probiotics. It supports overall dental health, overall immunity, and a healthy bacterial balance in the mouth. It helps to scrape off mild tartar, although it is best used to prevent dental issues than to treat them and is formulated specifically to be used between dental cleanings or before significant tartar and plaque have formed. There are vegetable fats in this to enhance palatability, but anise is the first ingredient and many people report finding the anise smell to be overwhelming and unpleasant. Some feel that it makes the product less appealing to their cats. It is easy to administer by sprinkling on your cat’s food and you may begin to see positive effects within 1–2 weeks.

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11. TevraPet Brush Free Oral Gel

The TevraPet Brush Free Oral Gel is a long-lasting gel made from chlorhexidine and sodium bicarbonate. The chlorhexidine functions as an antiseptic, killing off bacteria that can cause bad breath and dental disease, and the sodium bicarbonate maintains a neutral to alkaline pH within the mouth, ensuring the teeth and gums stay healthy. It is made to be spread onto your cat’s gums once per week and it does not require any brushing. It will slowly release its active ingredients over the week, making the mouth healthier, preventing tartar buildup, and improving mild tartar.

The chicken flavor is palatable to most cats and a single 0.88-ounce tube can last up to 4 months for your cat. Some people find the application to the gums difficult and the product is quite thick, so it may slide off the gums. You may need to dry your cat’s gums and use your finger instead of the applicator for maximum efficacy.

Final Thoughts

There are lots of great products for removing mild to moderate tartar in your cat’s mouth in these reviews, but the best overall product is the Vetoquinol Enzadent Enzymatic Toothbrush Kit, which has everything you need to get started on oral care for your cat. For tight budgets, try the Greenies Feline Adult Dental Cat Treats, which are palatable and effective against mild tartar and help prevent tartar buildup. For a premium product, the best pick is the 1-TDC Periodontal & Joint Health Supplement, which is a fantastic product but may be out of many people’s budgets.