Dog Toothpaste, Toothbrushes & Oral Care
26 productsBrush plaque away before it hardens with dog toothpaste, toothbrushes and finger brushes made for a dog's mouth.[more] Browse meat-flavoured toothpastes and starter kits from Petosan, Dentipet and Prozym RF2, plus oral gels, dental wipes, water additives and dental powders for dogs that won't take a brush, all part of our vet-recommended range of dental products for dogs.
$28.05
How brushing with dog toothpaste protects your dog's teeth
Plaque is a soft film of bacteria that builds up on a dog's teeth after every meal, and brushing wipes it off before it can harden.
Left alone, plaque can start hardening into tartar within a few days, and tartar cannot be brushed off. That is why our vet recommends brushing daily, or every other day if daily isn't realistic, as set out in Dog Dental Care: A Vet's Guide to Healthier Teeth and Gums.
Dog toothpaste and toothpaste kits from Petosan, Dentipet, Prozym and Vetsense
Every toothpaste in our range is made for pets, so it is safe for your dog to swallow and flavoured to make brushing feel like a treat.
- Petosan: a poultry-flavoured paste containing pyrophosphates, which help control tartar. Choose a 20g or 70g tube, or the Petosan Complete Dental Kit with a double-headed toothbrush and finger cloth.
- Dentipet: beef or chicken flavour Dentipet toothpaste from Ceva, which gives fussy dogs a choice of meaty flavours.
- Prozym RF2: the Prozym RF2 Toothpaste Kit pairs a toothpaste with a finger brush, and RF2 is an ingredient designed to target biofilm (the thin bacterial film that is the earliest stage of plaque).
- Vetsense DentiCare: the Vetsense DentiCare Toothpaste Kit is free from sugar, fluoride and parabens and comes with a finger brush.
Pet-Rite Dental Kits round out the range as a budget-friendly way to start a brushing routine.
Which dog toothbrush or finger brush should I choose?
Choose the brush your dog will accept today, then move up as they get used to having their mouth handled.
Most dogs start best with a Petosan OralCleaner Finger Cloth or a rubber finger brush, and the Petosan Silent Power Electric Toothbrush suits dogs that already take brushing calmly.
How to clean a dog's teeth without brushing
Oral gels, dental wipes, water additives and dental powders help reduce plaque for dogs that won't accept a brush, although none removes as much as daily brushing.
- Oral gels and sprays go straight onto the gums once a day: Maxi/Guard oral gels combine zinc gluconate with vitamin C, TropiClean Fresh Breath Oral Care Gel is mint-flavoured, and Mavlab Dental Spray Gel contains chlorhexidine, an antiseptic.
- Dental wipes slip over a finger and rub along the outside of the teeth, a good step for dogs that tolerate a finger but not a brush. Try Maxi/Guard Oral Wipes.
- Water additives mix into the water bowl and need no effort from your dog. Aquadent FR3SH Dental Water Additive is on the VOHC accepted products list for plaque and tartar, and TropiClean and Prozym RF2 Solution are also in our range. Keep a second bowl of plain water out in case your dog drinks less.
- Dental powders are sprinkled on food once a day and are mostly based on kelp, a brown seaweed. Troy PlaqueOff for Dogs carries the VOHC seal for plaque and tartar, and PlaqEase Dental Powder adds postbiotics and vitamin C. Kelp is high in iodine, so check with your vet first if your dog has a thyroid condition.
Pairing dog toothpaste with dental chews and dental diets
Brushing does the most work, and a daily chew or a dental diet adds extra plaque control on busy days.
- Dog dental chews clean as your dog gnaws, and many carry the VOHC seal.
- Dog dental diets use a kibble texture designed to help clean the teeth at mealtimes.
- Breath that stays bad even with brushing can point to dental disease: read How to Beat Bad Breath in Dogs and book a vet check.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, human toothpaste should not be used on dogs, because dogs swallow it and many human pastes contain fluoride or xylitol, which can harm dogs. Xylitol, a sugar-free sweetener, is toxic to dogs even in small amounts. A pet toothpaste is made to be swallowed and comes in flavours dogs enjoy, such as poultry or beef.
Vets recommend brushing a dog's teeth daily with a pet toothpaste and a soft dog toothbrush or finger brush. Every other day still helps, while once a week does much less because plaque has time to harden in between. Focus on the outside surfaces of the teeth, especially the large back teeth where tartar builds up most.
Brown build-up on a dog's teeth is usually tartar, hardened plaque that brushing at home cannot remove. A vet removes tartar with a scale and polish under general anaesthetic. Starting daily brushing straight after a professional clean keeps the smooth teeth free of new plaque.
A good dog toothpaste is a pet-specific formula that is safe to swallow, free from xylitol, and in a flavour your dog enjoys. Ingredients that target plaque or tartar, such as pyrophosphates in Petosan or RF2 in Prozym, add extra value. The right flavour matters most, because a dog that likes the taste accepts brushing far more readily.
Most dogs need a few weeks to go from tasting the toothpaste to accepting a full brush. Start by letting your dog lick a little paste off your finger, then rub a finger along the gums before introducing the brush. Keep sessions short and finish with praise or a treat so your dog looks forward to the next one.
