Short answer: Use a toothpaste made for pets that is safe to swallow and free of xylitol, never human toothpaste. Choose one labelled for your pet's species, in a flavour they enjoy, and use a small amount on a soft brush, finger brush or wipe every day. With daily brushing, a pet toothpaste helps reduce plaque build-up and freshens breath. It cannot remove hardened tartar or replace veterinary care.
What pet toothpaste does
Toothpaste does not clean teeth by itself: the brush, finger or wipe does the cleaning. What a good pet toothpaste adds is a reason for your pet to accept it, in a paste that needs no rinsing. Used with daily brushing, it helps reduce plaque build-up, cleans along the gumline and freshens breath. In the first weeks it is also the reward. A flavour your pet wants to lick is half the battle.
In the Petdentist® range
Petdentist® officially distributes Petsmile® Professional Pet Toothpaste in three flavours, London Broil, Rotisserie Chicken and Say Cheese, in 4.2 oz tubes. It is free of fluoride, parabens, sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) and xylitol, and it is VOHC accepted for plaque in dogs. That acceptance belongs to this toothpaste, in dogs. It does not transfer to other products or to cats. Read what the seal on the tube really means.
How to choose
- Species. The label should name your pet's species. For cats, choose a toothpaste labelled for cats, with no essential oils or phenols.
- Age. Puppies and kittens can start with a lick from your fingertip long before a brush goes near them. Check the pack for any age guidance.
- Size. Cats and toy breeds need only a smear. Large dogs need a little more to cover more teeth.
- Flavour. Meaty and cheesy flavours suit most dogs. If one is refused, try another before giving up.
How to use it
Put about a pea-sized amount on a soft toothbrush, finger brush or textured wipe, or a little more for a large dog, as the pack directs. Lift the lip, angle the bristles at about 45° to the gumline and work along the outer surfaces. No rinsing is needed. Brush daily: soft plaque can begin to harden within about 48 to 72 hours, so every other day is the minimum. New to brushing? Follow our step-by-step plans for dogs and cats.
What toothpaste cannot do
It cannot remove tartar that has already hardened, clean below the gumline or show what is happening inside a tooth. Those need your vet, often under anaesthesia. A lick of toothpaste is a good start, but the cleaning comes from bristles moving along the gumline. And no toothpaste, however well evidenced, replaces a veterinary dental check at least once a year.
Safety notes
- Never human toothpaste. It is made to be spat out and may contain fluoride, foaming agents or xylitol.
- No xylitol. It is toxic to dogs. Every Petdentist® product is xylitol-free.
- Cat-safe means cat-labelled. No tea tree, peppermint, eucalyptus or clove oils, and no phenols.
- Stop if gums bleed. Book a veterinary check rather than brushing harder.
When to see your vet
If you notice loose or wobbly teeth, swelling, discharge, bleeding that does not settle, reluctance to eat, dropping food, drooling, pawing at the mouth or any change in behaviour, please contact your veterinary surgeon promptly. Home care supports professional care — it never replaces it.
Where it fits: Step 1, Clean
Toothpaste belongs to Step 1 of the Petdentist Daily System, with a soft brush or textured wipes. A dental powder (Step 2) and a water additive (Step 3) make the results easier to keep between cleans.
Where to buy
Choose your country store for local prices, delivery and availability.