The 9 Best Dog Toothpastes of 2023, Tested and Reviewed

Best Overall

Petsmile Professional Pet Toothpaste

5

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Petsmile Professional Pet Toothpaste cleans teeth, freshens breath, and is available in three dog-appealing flavors: London Broil, Rotisserie Chicken, and Say Cheese. While dog flavors may not sound too appealing to humans, Petsmile is odorless, thankfully.

The mouth-cleaning paste is made with Calprox, which is Petsmile's proprietary combination of calcium peroxide and minerals. Upon application to a canine's chompers (or a cat's kisser), the formula dissolves the film where unwanted gunk, such as plaque and bacteria, tends to linger in a dog's mouth. The toothpaste contains no animal proteins and is completely free of sulfites, parabens, gluten, BPA, and silica.

Our testing dog used PetSmile Professional Pet Toothpaste weekly for a month, and our volunteer noted noticeably whiter teeth, less buildup along their gum line, and fresher breath.

Petsmile is the only dog toothpaste approved by the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC), which sets standards and reviews data to highlight pet products that are proven to reduce plaque and tartar. VOHC products have been shown to decrease plaque and tartar buildup by 20 percent, thus reducing the likelihood of periodontal and other mouth diseases.

With its high-quality and non-allergenic ingredients, human-grade strength, appealing meaty flavor and professional co-sign, there’s no other toothpaste whose effectiveness has been proven like Petsmile Professional Pet Toothpaste. While not as effective as brushing, Petsmile even works without a toothbrush: apply the paste directly to your dog's teeth and let their flavor-chasing tongue do a little mild scrubbing.

Price at time of publish: $25

_{Ingredients: Calprox, deionized water, glycerin, citric acid, dicalcium phosphate dihydrate, cellulose gum, urea peroxide, carbopol 934P, potassium hydroxide, flavor, sodium benzoate, phosphoric acid, and cetylpyridinium chloride︱Size: 2.5, 4.2, 4.5 ounces︱Flavors: London broil, rotisserie chicken, say cheese}

Best Enzymatic

Virbac C.E.T. Enzymatic Toothpaste

4.8

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C.E.T. is the dental care product line from Virbac that includes dental chews, and dog toothbrushes, and it stands for customizable care, easy to use, and trusted by veterinarians.

This enzymatic dog toothpaste from Virbac is offered in five flavors—Poultry, Malt, Vanilla Mint, Beef, and Seafood. We tested with the Poultry flavor and were please to find that it had no detectable scent. All flavors are tan-colored paste, but it will not stain fur or surfaces once the product dissipates. When our tube of Virbac was brand new we found it difficult to keep extra paste from coming out, so be careful when squeezing.

The formula for Virbac C.E.T. Enzymatic Toothpaste uses a dual enzyme approach to target buildup and bacteria in a dog's mouth. Enzymes are proteins that stimulate chemical reactions when they interact with organic matter, breaking down common stink and plaque-causing compounds. For best results, enzymatic dog toothpaste requires a toothbrush or finger brush for application, which help to stimulate the enzymatic activity that attacks plaque and tartar. With its lack of foaming agents and fluoride, it is an exceptionally safe product, meaning your dog can eat it without getting sick.

“It has the added benefit of ongoing action after the brushing has been completed,” Dr. Machell said.

Price at time of publish: $11

_{Ingredients: Sorbitol, dicalcium phosphate anhydrous, purified water, hydrated silica, glycerin, dextrose, xanthan gum, vanillin, titanium dioxide, sodium benzoate, methyl salicylate, potassium thiocyanate, glucose oxidase, lactoperoxidase︱Size: 2.5 oz︱Flavors: Poultry, beef, malt, seafood, and vanilla mint}

Best Kit

Paws & Pals Dog Toothbrush and Toothpaste Brushing Kit

5

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With two tubes of beef-flavored toothpaste and three brush styles to try, the Paws & Pals Dog Toothbrush and Toothpaste Kit will help you develop and stick with a routine for brushing your dog's teeth regularly,

The consistency of the enzymatic toothpaste is thick so it stays on all of the brushes provided without issue. The toothpaste is safe for dogs to consume but you should limit their intake to the portion used for brushing. Our participating dog really enjoyed the flavor and tolerated the dual-sided brush long enough for application to their teeth, gums, and tongue. Regular use has helped to neutralize the unpleasant odor in their breath.

A benefit of this kit is having different application tools to try. A fingertip brush is a reliable method for getting toothpaste into a dog's mouth (we recommend using the pointer finger on your less dominant hand), while a toothbrush can be more beneficial for scrubbing buildup from your dog's teeth. The kit includes a dual-headed toothbrush with two head sizes at opposite ends, one standard and one small. Both are made with soft bristles to be gentle on gums.

Price at time of publish: $20 for 2-pack

_{Ingredients: Water, sodium benzoate, tetrasodium pyrophosphate, sodium saccharin, sorbitol, sodium lauryl sulfate, cellulose gum, titanium dioxide, hydrated silica, aroma, calcium carbonate, glucose oxidase︱Size: 7 ounces︱Flavor: Beef}

Best Budget

Nutri-Vet Enzymatic Toothpaste for Dogs

5

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Nutri-Vet Enzymatic Toothpaste for Dogs is an effective dog toothpaste at an approachable price with a chicken flavor our dog tester seems to really enjoy. If your dog also loves chicken then brushing their teeth will be easier with this toothpaste. Our volunteer perks up at the sight of the meat-flavored tube, and with toothbrushing sessions once or twice a week, there has been a noticeable reduction of buildup on their teeth and their foul breath has been neutralized.

The thick paste formula contains enzymes that get to work immediately upon application to a dog's teeth and gums. The product is positioned as non-foaming but we felt that it produced a small amount of foam. It's only available with a chicken flavor, so we do not recommend this toothpaste for dogs who experience adverse reactions to poultry.

Price at time of publish: $4

_{Ingredients: Purified water, sorbitol, glycerin, hydrated silica, dicalcium phosphate, xanthan gum, artificial flavor, sodium saccharin, sodium benzoate, glucose oxidase︱Size: 2.5 ounces︱Flavor: Chicken}

Best with Baking Soda

Arm & Hammer Dental Fresh Breath Enzymatic Dog Toothpaste

4.8

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Arm & Hammer Dental Fresh Breath Enzymatic Dog Toothpaste offers a combination of enzymes to break down buildup along with baking soda to whiten teeth and deodorize. The paste is available in multiple flavors, such as Chicken and Vanilla-Ginger. The first ingredient is sorbitol, a sugar alcohol that is safe for dogs to consume, and it is not the same as xylitol, a sweetener that is toxic for dogs but often found in toothpaste for humans.

Using a dog toothbrush or a finger brush to activate ingredients, this paste effectively kills bacteria and neutralizes odor. The paste itself has a subtle minty scent and the consistency is similar to baking soda toothpaste made for humans.

Price at time of publish: $9

_{Active Ingredients: Sorbitol, water, hydrated silica, polysorbate 20, tetrasodium pyrophosphate, cellulose gum, sodium chloride, perlite, flavor, sodium bicarbonate, zinc gluconate, calcium carbonate, tocopheryl acetate, proteases, thymol, glucose oxidase, chlorophylin, blue 1︱Size: 2.5 oz︱Flavors: Chicken, vanilla-ginger, beef}

Best Flavorless

Oxyfresh Dental Gel Premium Dog Toothpaste

4.8

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The Oxyfresh Dental Gel Premium Dog Toothpaste is an effective flavorless toothpaste that made a noticeable improvement in our dog's teeth and breath.

This neutral toothpaste is without a flavor additive. Many toothpaste products for dogs rely on artificial flavoring to entice a canine, but along with the meaty or cheesy flavoring often comes an aroma that many humans do not find appealing. This gel toothpaste has no detectable scent and can be applied to your dog's mouth using a pet toothbrush or your finger. You can also try putting the paste directly on your dog's paw to let them lick it off, but that might lead to gel paw prints on non-teeth surfaces in your home. The toothpaste is made in the United States with minimal ingredients and is also safe for use with cats.

Price at time of publish: $11

_{Ingredients: Water, chondrus crispus, sodium chlorite, aloe barbadensis leaf juice, chamomilla recutita extract, glycerin, methylparaben, propylparaben︱Size: 4 ounces︱Flavor: Flavorless}

Best For Bad Breath

Vet’s Best Enzymatic Dog Toothpaste

5

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The formula for Vet’s Best Enzymatic Dog Toothpaste is made with aloe and neem oil to soothe irritated and inflamed gums along with grapefruit seed extra, baking soda, and enzymes to remove plaque, tartar, and bacteria. In between cleaning sessions with a toothbrush or finger brush, the clear gel toothpaste can be applied to a dog's tongue to neutralize odor-causing buildup in their mouth.

The flavor, described as natural by the manufacturer, was enjoyed by our participating canine tester, and the slight aloe-like scent is mild. This toothpaste may also be suitable for dogs with sensitive stomachs, but you should consult with your veterinarian if that is a concern.

Price at time of publish: $8

_{Ingredients: Glycerin, aloe, pectin, neem oil, grapefruit seed extract, sodium bicarbonate, glucose oxidase, natural flavors︱Size: 3.5 ounces︱Flavor: Natural flavor}

Best for Puppies

Nylabone Advanced Oral Care Dog Toothpaste

4.8

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Nylabone Advanced Oral Care Dog Toothpaste is made with a proprietary blend of ingredients that the manufacturer calls Denta-C to help remove tartar and plaque from a dog's teeth. The paste is safe for dogs to consume and can be used to clean the teeth of dogs at any age, with a smaller dosage for younger pups.

“One of the keys to brushing your dog’s teeth is to start early when they are young to establish a daily routine and ensure positive rewards during the process, then building on these good habits right from the start,” Dr. Machell said.

During our testing, the Original flavor was enjoyed by our participating dog. We are unable to determine the flavor profile of Original, but it does not have a strong scent. The toothpaste also comes in a Peanut Butter flavor.

It's also available in a useful kit.

Price at time of publish: $9

_{Active Ingredients: Sorbitol, water, silica, glycerin, cellulose gum, sodium ascorbyl phosphate, sodium copper chlorophyllin, sodium hexametaphosphate, tetrasodium pyrophosphate, flavor, titanium dioxide, potassium sorbate, sodium benzoate, and magnesium aluminum silicate︱Size: 2.5 ounces︱Flavors: Original, peanut butter}