According to Sarah Machell, DVM, a lead vet with Vetster, “a dog’s mouth is the portal to their body, and good dental hygiene is key to their physical wellbeing. Having healthy teeth and gums is one of the most important ways to help your dog avoid hidden infection and pain.”
If you are not using the best dog toothpaste, your dog’s mouth can be a source of grave health issues. Per the AKC Canine Health Foundation research, periodontal disease—a disease of the teeth and gums caused by the accumulation of food particles and bacteria along your dog’s gum line that leads to plaque and gingivitis—is the most common health issue in dogs. In fact, 80% of dogs start showing signs of oral and dental diseases by the age of three.
Not only can gum disease make it difficult for your dog to eat, it also can carry bacteria into the bloodstream affecting internal organs. In addition, if a dog’s teeth are not brushed regularly, their breath can get really stinky and teeth yellow.
To prevent these issues, it’s necessary to clean your dog’s teeth with a toothbrush designed specifically for dogs and the best dog toothpaste which
- Is safe to swallow
- Helps reduce bacteria
- Lessen tartar buildup
- Improves bad breath
- Prevents Oral Diseases
- Protects Enamel From Cavities
- Shouldn’t contain xylitol. It’s toxic for dogs. Even tiny amounts of xylitol can lead to hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), seizures, liver failure, or even lead to death.
Keeping in mind the above properties, we have compiled the list from which you can pick the best dog toothpaste for your dog to gift him a glowy smile, kissable fresh breath, and healthy gums—the same that you want for yourself. Here, it may occur to you that my toothpaste gives me healthy gums and brightens up my teeth, why not use it for my dog’s teeth?
Can I Use Human Toothpaste for Dogs?
No, you can’t use human toothpaste for cleaning your dog’s teeth. These kinds of toothpaste contain an artificial sweetener, ‘Xylitol,’ which is as said before dangerous for dogs. As dogs can’t spit the toothpaste out and swallow it, the xylitol reaches into their stomach. This toxic ingredient causes a drop in blood-sugar, leading to potential liver damage.
With a strict ‘no’ to human toothpaste, you need to select from pastes made only for dogs.
Scroll down to find the best toothpaste dog to maintain your dog’s oral health effectively.
1. All Natural Dog Toothpaste
If your dog has no oral diseases and the only purpose you need a dog toothpaste is to keep his teeth clean and air away bad breath, then you should go for an all-natural dog toothpaste.
Luckily, Radius dog toothpaste is enriched with organic ingredients that have a deep action organic formula that cleans your dog’s teeth, leaving a refreshing breath.
Comparing it to the qualities the best dog toothpaste should have, this product has it all—it’s non-toxic for dogs, helps prevent tartar, removes plaque, contains fennel which soothes stomachs and gas, and most importantly, it’s Xylitol-free, which means even if your dog swallows it, he won’t get any health issues.
2. Best Medicated and Variety of Flavors
Though all-natural toothpaste, such as the one we discussed above, should be your first preference. Sometimes, it’s not enough to provide your dog’s teeth enough safety, especially if they have teeth issues. Because for such issues, there should be special ingredients that treat those issues.
That’s a big reason why the C.E.T. Brand is #1 recommended by veterinary professionals for at-home dog dental care. Their dog toothpaste formula boasts more enzymes that deliver an extra-deep clean and strong antibacterial action. Moreover, it has a variety of flavors from seafood to vanilla mint to beef—flavors your dog will love.
This toothpaste is manufactured by Virbac, a company that has specialized in animal dental health for 30 years and is the top-recommended dental brand by veterinary professionals. The research at Vibrac labs has helped incorporate non-foamy enzymes and abrasive elements, creating toothpastes that are safe for pets, even if swallowed!
3. Best Dog Toothpaste Made From Organic Ingredients
Petsmile is the first and only toothpaste accepted by the VOHC (Veterinary Oral Health Council) for plaque inhibition thanks to its Calprox formula, an encapsulated form of Calcium Peroxide and minerals. The VOHC recognizes that Petsmile meets the highest standards for dog’s oral health.
Calprox-based proprietary formula by Petsmile is clinically proven to inhibit plaque and tartar buildup by gently dissolving the protein pellicle. The protein pellicle is the thin bio-film that forms on the surface of the teeth, to which plaque, bacteria, and stains adhere. Brushing teeth with Petsmile will remove the pellicle, leaving your dog’s teeth cleaner and whiter while improving gum health.
Getting overall 4.5 stars on Amazon, dogs love this toothpaste, as reported by the dog owners. “My dogs LOVE the taste of this product. They no longer run when they see the toothbrush coming their way. As a veterinary professional, it is important to me that this dental product is VOHC approved,” Michael Dossey shares his experience.
Kathy, another dog owner, says, “this toothpaste was recommended by my groomer so I tried it. It is really expensive (in my opinion) but the dogs really like it! The best part is that you don’t have to actually brush their teeth, you just put the paste on their teeth and let them lick it around.”
4. Best Dog Toothpaste at Reasonable Price
Petrodex dog toothpaste is made up of organic compounds only and comes at a reasonable price as well. The product is safe for all dog breeds and ideal for puppies as well. The toothpaste comes with an easy-to-use kit that targets farther corners in the mouth to eradicate bad breath at its source while gently removing food debris and reducing plaque and tartar formation. After use, there is no rinsing required, as its ingredients are all organic.
As it comes in a delicious poultry flavor a dog’s taste buds always crave, your pooch will love it.
Garnering impressive ratings from more than 18,000 users, this toothpaste is the owners’ go-to solution for dogs’ dental hygiene.
5. Peanut-Flavored
While the main purpose of a toothpaste is to clean and brighten up teeth and prevent oral problems, your dog doesn’t understand this and tries to run away when he sees a brush in your hand. Keeping the dog’s dislike for toothpaste in mind, Nylabone made brushing dogs’ teeth fun.
When you brush your dog teeth with Nylabone, he enjoys the process by devouring this pasty peanut-butter flavor. But wait, this peanut-butter is not the only best thing this toothpaste has.
From a medicinal perspective, it contains Denta-C formula, which is scientifically proven to help reduce plaque that harbors bacteria. Moreover, its dental formula may help prevent dog gingivitis.
With all these qualities, it comes at a very reasonable price.
6. Radius Organic Dental Solutions Puppy Kit
This is considered one of the best toothpaste for puppies.
The immune system of puppies is extremely sensitive, and any toxic ingredient can make them really sick. Owners have to make sure anything going inside their puppy is not toxic. Obviously, when puppies’ teeth are brushed, they can’t spit out the toothpaste, so everything goes into their tummy. If there is any harmful chemical in the toothpaste, your puppy will get really sick. Thus, you need to be very picky for their health’s sake.
Radius Organic Dental Solutions Puppy Kit contains the best toothpaste and toothbrush specifically designed for dogs of young age. Certified by the United States Department of Agriculture, this toothpaste is chemical-free and organic, based on a unique blend of organic coconut oil, sweet potato, and cinnamon, giving your puppy a tasty yet healthy treat.
This toothpaste whitens the teeth as well. Organic coconut oil in this canine gel toothpaste not only naturally whitens the teeth, but it helps reduce bacteria and reduces the risk of tooth decay.
7. Best Dog Toothpaste For Bad Breath
Why is your dog’s breathe stinky? Why does your dog’s breath smell like fish? It is because your dog has the problem of halitosis—an offensive odor coming from the oral cavity, which can be caused by:
- Bacteria associated with plaque
- Tartar
- Accumulation of food leftovers within periodontal pockets
- Persistent bleeding due to coagulation abnormalities
- Death of tissue from oral tumors
Other than these, the top common cause of bad breath in dogs is bad oral hygiene that leads to plaque and tartar, promoting the growth of the bacteria that cause bad breath. Over time, poor oral hygiene can lead to periodontal disease.
To deal with this issue, we recommend using Arm & Hammer Dip & Brush Dog Enzymatic Toothpaste kit.
Infused with baking soda, this dog dental kit is suitable for all dog breeds and puppies and is a safe, gentle, and effective way to care for your dog’s teeth. In addition, its vanilla ginger formula, specifically designed for puppies, is waxier and thicker, giving it the ability to better stick to teeth that gives it enough time for deeper cleaning.
This is the end of our top picks. From the above-mentioned dog toothpastes, pick one as per your choice and budget. And when you make a decision, we recommend you consulting your vet to make sure that the ingredients go well with your dog or not.
After passing the hurdle of choosing the best dog toothpaste for your dog, it’s time to learn how to apply it properly.
How To Clean My Dog’s Teeth?
You can clean your dog’s tooth either with a toothbrush or a rubber tooth cleaner designed specifically for dogs. Moreover, some toothpastes are easy to apply and you don’t need any tool to apply them. Just put a tiny amount of your fingertip and apply it on the dog’s teeth, the ingredients of the toothpaste will take care of the rest.
Generally, the following tips can be used for applying the toothpaste:
- Take a small amount on your finger or toothbrush
- Let your dog taste a small amount of toothpaste
- Gently rub teeth and gums in a circular motion
- Alter the movement and gently brush with a back & forth motion
- No rinsing is necessary
Oral hygiene is essential to keep your dog’s breath fresh and teeth healthy—so you can enjoy their kisses and licking all the time.