A comprehensive comparison of dental care products
Comparison: How to choose the best dental care product for your dog or cat
Do you sometimes feel a small nagging sense of guilt that you should be taking better care of your pet’s teeth? Dental problems occur in up to 70% of cats and 80% of dogs before the age of three, so you’re not alone – and help is close at hand.
Healthy teeth and good oral health are an important part of your dog’s or cat’s overall well-being. Major and demanding dental treatments are not pleasant for either pets or their owners. Daily tooth brushing, regular veterinary check-ups, and professional tartar removal under anesthesia when necessary are the best ways to care for your pet’s dental health.
In addition to brushing, there are several products with different mechanisms of action that can strengthen at-home dental care.
In this article, we list our range of dental and oral care products for dogs and cats and describe their active ingredients, benefits and uses. Hopefully, this overview will help you find the products that best suit your dog’s and/or cat’s dental care routine.
VOHC Label – A Guarantee of documented effectiveness
The international organization Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) grants the seal of approval “VOHC Accepted” to products that have scientifically demonstrated effectiveness in preventing plaque and/or tartar. The VOHC logo therefore acts as an indicator of clinically proven quality showing that the product’s effectiveness has been documented in studies.
However, it is important to remember that the absence of a VOHC label does not automatically mean that a product is ineffective (the application process for the label is extensive and costly). For other products, it is still wise to review the product information and ensure that the effect is based on proven ingredients or documented mechanisms of action.
Our dental care products for dogs and cats
Toothpastes and dental gels
Toothpastes and gels enhance the mechanical cleaning effect of tooth brushing through their active ingredients. For example, chlorhexidine has a disinfecting effect, while enzyme-containing toothpaste helps break down plaque on the tooth surface.
Virbac C.E.T. Toothpaste for Dogs and Cats
The C.E.T. Dual-Enzyme System activates and strengthens the mouth’s natural defences. Regular brushing with C.E.T. toothpaste reduces plaque, tartar, and bad breath.
Dentihex Adhesive Dental Gel for Dogs and Cats
Contains chlorhexidine, which has a disinfecting effect against bacteria and fungi. Chlorhexidine has been shown to help prevent bad breath, plaque, tartar and gum inflammation in dogs and cats. The gel adheres to proteins and tooth enamel and is released slowly over 24 hours, providing long-lasting effects.
Hexagel
Contains 0.5% chlorhexidine gluconate, which cleans gum pockets and reduces plaque formation.
Use according to your veterinarian’s recommendation.
Aptus Bucadog and Bucacat Dental Gel
An enzymatic gel used during brushing and then applied directly to the teeth. The product helps maintain a normal bacterial balance in the mouth, break down plaque, prevent new plaque formation, and reduce bad breath.
Mouth rinses and solutions (water additives)
Just like toothpastes and gels, the ingredients in mouth rinses and solutions help support dental hygiene and freshen breath. For example, erythritol reduces the accumulation of harmful bacteria in the mouth and inhibits biofilm formation, while pomegranate extract helps prevent plaque build up thanks to its antioxidant and anti-adhesive properties.
VetOral
VetOral is a natural oral care gel developed for dogs and cats. It is based on fermented Lingora lingonberry solution, which studies have shown can reduce gum inflammation, prevent tartar formation and support a balanced microbial environment in the mouth.
VetAquadent FR3SH
Helps prevent plaque and tartar formation and freshens the breath of dogs and cats. Erythritol, inulin and pomegranate extract (Punica granatum) help maintain fresh breath and healthy teeth and gums by controlling plaque formation.
Hexarinse
The antimicrobial effect of chlorhexidine can help prevent and reduce gum inflammation. Hexarinse’s alcohol-free formulation is gentle on irritated gums and freshens your pet’s breath.
Use according to your veterinarian’s recommendation.
Oxyfresh Water Additive
This solution cleans and cares for teeth and gums, freshens breath and helps prevent plaque and tartar formation. Contains stabilized chlorine dioxide (Oxygene®) and zinc as active ingredients.
Oxyfresh Dental Spray
Zinc and the patented Oxygene® quickly and safely neutralize odor-causing bacteria. Oxyfresh breaks down bacteria that contribute to plaque and tartar formation.
Powders to be mixed with food
Seaweed Powder
Seaweed (Ascophyllum nodosum) affects the composition of saliva, which helps soften tartar and prevent new plaque deposits from adhering to the teeth. Seaweed powder also reduces volatile sulfur compounds that cause bad breath and supports gum health.
Seaweed-based products include:
- PlaqueOff powder for dogs and cats
- Alvar Pet Dental+
- Aika Dental Seaweed
- CanineCare Seaweed Powder
- Aptus Plaque Buster powder
- Nutrolin Teeth & Gums (a gel with the same seaweed base that can be mixed with food)
Lactic Acid Bacteria
The Finnish product PetGuide Oral contains lactic acid bacteria that compete with unwanted bacteria in the mouths of dogs and cats. The powder contains three different bacterial strains adapted to withstand the conditions created by oxygen and saliva in the mouth. They attach to the oral mucosa and help create a balanced and healthy bacterial flora inside the mouth.
Dental chews and chew treats
The effect of chewing products is based both on mechanical cleaning of the tooth surface and on their active ingredients. A well-designed shape is essential to maximize cleaning while the dog chews.
Alvar Pet Dental Chews
Reduce plaque and tartar formation. Sodium polyphosphate binds calcium in the oral cavity and reduces plaque hardening into tartar. The fiber-rich composition and product design enhance the brush-like mechanical effect during chewing. Contains natural mint to help freshen breath. The hypoallergenic formulation, based on insect protein, suits many dogs, including the more sensitive ones.
Virbac VeggieDent Chews for Dogs
Reduce plaque and tartar formation and help combat bad breath. Regular use of C.E.T. chews helps keep teeth clean and supports gum health. The Z-shape enhances and optimizes the mechanical cleaning effect.
Active ingredients: erythritol, inulin and pomegranate extract. The product is VOHC-approved.
Aptus Bucadog Chew for Dogs
Reduces plaque and freshens breath, mechanically cleans teeth and improves oral health.
DentaStix
DentaStix has been independently tested and evaluated and is clinically proven to reduce tartar formation by up to 80%. The active ingredient is 2.5% trisodium polyphosphate.
PlaqueOff Dental Bites / Bones for cats and dogs
The active ingredient is A.N ProDen™, whose effect against plaque, tartar and bad breath has been demonstrated in clinical studies. The chew-intensive structure helps clean teeth.
Monster Dental Chew
The formulation includes sodium hexametaphosphate and seaweed. When chewed, the shape and structure mechanically clean the teeth. Active minerals help reduce tartar and plaque formation by up to 80%.
Specific CT-DC-S Dental Chew
Thanks to its flexible structure and open pattern that allows the teeth to penetrate deeply into the chewable sections the chew provides effective mechanical cleaning. The composition includes ingredients that help reduce plaque and tartar and support fresh breath: hexametaphosphate, vitamin C phosphate, seaweed, green tea extract, eucalyptus oil and parsley oil.
CanineCare Plant- and seaweed-based dental chew for dogs
Chewing the specially shaped bone helps mechanically clean even the most difficult-to-reach tooth surfaces. The effective seaweed (Ascophyllum nodosum) works in the mouth via the dog’s saliva to prevent plaque formation and soften tartar.
Dry food
With dry food, as with other chew products, both the size and structure of the kibble and the added ingredients are important. Sodium polyphosphates bind calcium in saliva and thereby reduce the calcification of plaque into tartar.
Royal Canin Veterinary Diets Health Management Dental Small Dog for small dogs
Royal Canin Veterinary Diets Health Management Dental for larger dogs
Royal Canin Veterinary Diets Health Management Dental for cats
Hill’s t/d Dental Care Mini with Chicken for small dogs
Hill’s t/d Dental Care with Chicken for larger dogs
Hill’s t/d Dental Care with Chicken for cats
