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After testing a wide variety of toothbrushes, toothpastes, and dental chews on our dog, we’ve compiled a guide to the best dental care products for dogs.
Brushing your teeth is an important part of your daily routine. When it comes to your dog’s teeth, however, you might not be so diligent. In fact, you may not even realize that brushing your dog’s teeth is a necessity at all. Any responsible veterinarian will tell you that you should be brushing your dog’s teeth on a daily basis or, at the very least, once a week.
The truth is that oral hygiene is just as important for your dog as it is for you. By three years of age, the majority of dogs and cats exhibit some evidence of periodontal disease. In addition to causing bad breath, gum disease in dogs can cause discoloration to the teeth and inflammation in the gums. If the disease is allowed to progress, bacteria can spread under the gumline and cause damage to the underlying bone. It can even seep into the bloodstream and cause an infection.
Fortunately, taking care of your dog’s teeth is easy if you have the right products. Finding a good toothbrush and toothpaste is a great place to start, but you may also want to consider additional dog dental health products like water additives, gels, and dental chews.
Here are the best dental care products for dogs:
Read on in the slides below to check out our top picks.
The best dog toothpaste
Why you'll love it: With an irresistible poultry flavor, Sentry Petrodex Enzymatic Dog Toothpaste is loved by dogs and dog owners alike.
Buying a high-quality dog toothbrush is a great place to start in improving your dog’s dental health, but you also need some toothpaste. Never use toothpaste intended for humans on your pup’s teeth because it may contain ingredients that are toxic to dogs.
When choosing a toothpaste for your pooch, you’ll want to select one that gets the job done but is also appealing to your dog so he doesn’t fight you the entire time. Our top pick for the best dog toothpaste is Sentry Petrodex Enzymatic Dog Toothpaste. In testing, we liked how well it cleaned our puppy’s teeth, and he enjoyed the flavor.
Specially formulated for dogs, Sentry Petrodex Enzymatic Dog Toothpaste supports all aspects of your dog’s dental health. In addition to cleaning teeth and freshening breath, it helps prevent plaque and tartar buildup for long-term oral health. This toothpaste is made in the USA from high-quality ingredients in a non-foaming, poultry-flavored formula your dog won’t be able to resist.
In a review of the best dog teeth cleaning products, Dog Tartar names Sentry Petrodex Enzymatic Dog Toothpaste as its top choice for the best dog toothpaste. The writer comments that the poultry flavor is appealing to even the pickiest dogs and the non-foaming formula means you don’t have to rinse after brushing. The Hunting Dog reviewed this product favorably as well.
With more than 2,700 reviews on Amazon and an Amazon’s Choice award, Sentry Petrodex Enzymatic Dog Toothpaste also has a 4.5-star rating. Dog owners love how well the product works, though there were some dogs who simply didn’t like the flavor.
Pros: Specially formulated for dogs, irresistible poultry flavor, cleans teeth and freshens breath, prevents plaque buildup, non-foaming formula means no rinsing
Cons: Some dogs do not like the flavor, some dogs do not like having their teeth brushed
The best dog toothbrush
Why you'll love it: Not only do Duke’s Double Ended Dog Toothbrushes work for dogs of all breeds, ages, and sizes, but the price simply can’t be beat.
Brushing your dog’s teeth on a regular basis is important for reducing plaque and calculus. Plaque is a sticky film-like substance that forms on the surface of your dog’s teeth and while you can’t see plaque, you can see calculus. Calculus is made up of mineral deposits and, if not removed, it can harden into tartar, which is more difficult to get rid of. To keep your dog’s teeth clean and healthy, we recommend brushing after every meal with Duke’s Double Ended Dog Toothbrushes.
In our testing, we found that the small head was ideal for our test puppy and the bristles were very soft. Duke’s Double Ended Dog Toothbrushes are surprisingly inexpensive, too. You get two double-sided brushes for about $4.
Each brush measures 8.5 inches long so you can reach all the way to the back of your dog’s mouth, and there are two different-sized brushes. These brushes feature ultra-soft bristles so they won’t irritate your dog’s gums and the angled heads make it possible to clean those hard-to-reach surfaces where plaque tends to accumulate.
Dog Plaque Removal Tips includes Duke’s Double Ended Dog Toothbrushes in its list of the best dog teeth cleaning products, commenting that the size and shape of the angled heads are perfect for getting into the nooks and crannies of your dog’s mouth. Petsho also reviews this toothbrush positively, noting that the small brush can be used in the front of your dog’s mouth and the larger brush in the back. The writer also comments that the brushes can be sanitized in the dishwasher.
With nearly 500 reviews on Amazon, Duke’s Double Ended Dog Toothbrushes have a 4.5-star rating. Dog owners love the price and the soft bristles, though there are some comments about the handle being too long for very small dogs.
Pros: Double-ended design features large and small brush, angled heads to brush hard-to-reach places, extra soft bristles don’t irritate gums, very inexpensive
Cons: Double-ended design makes the grip a little awkward, bristles may fall out with frequent use, handle may be too long for very small dogs
The best solution for bad breath
Why you'll love it: Adding Nylabone Advanced Oral Care Tartar Remover to your dog’s water can kill plaque-causing bacteria in his bowl and mouth for clean teeth and fresh breath.
If you don’t get your dog used to having his teeth brushed when he is young, you may have trouble trying to brush his teeth when he gets older. Some dogs simply do not like having their teeth touched but this doesn’t mean you can ignore your dog’s dental health.
Using a water additive can help kill off plaque-causing bacteria both in your dog’s bowl and in his mouth, keeping his mouth cleaner without the need for brushing. Our top pick for the best dog water additive is Nylabone Advanced Oral Care Tartar Remover.
Our test pup didn’t seem to mind the taste of the additive and it helped with our cat’s oral hygiene as well since they share a bowl.
Though it may not be an equal replacement for regular brushing, Nylabone Advanced Oral Care Tartar Remover can help prevent tartar buildup between dental cleanings. This water additive is specially designed to freshen breath and reduce plaque and tartar buildup by altering the pH of your dog’s saliva. Simply add one tablespoon to 32 ounces of water and let your dog drink normally.
Dog Plaque Removal Tips recommends Nylabone's Advanced Oral Care Tartar Remover and comment on how easy it is to use. However, the writer confirms that some dogs dislike the taste. As a solution, the writer suggests diluting the additive with water and spraying it directly into the dog’s mouth. A detailed review from The Dog Health confirms that the additive is effective and easy to use.
With more than 1,200 buyer reviews, Nylabone Advanced Oral Care Tartar Remover has a 4-star rating on Amazon and carries an Amazon’s Choice award. Dog owners love how easy the product is to use, though there are some comments about dogs not liking the flavor.
Pros: Very easy to use, freshens breath, reduces plaque and tartar buildup, safe for dogs of all ages and breeds, kills plaque-causing bacteria in the bowl and mouth
Cons: Some dogs dislike the flavor it adds to their water, some ingredients may affect dogs that suffer from allergies, not an equal replacement for brushing or regular cleaning
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