Dogs smile with their tails, not their teeth. But keeping your dog’s dental hygiene in tip-top shape is essential to their overall health. Daily brushing helps prevent painful canine dental issues, including gum disease. Pet parents can take their doggie’s oral health to the next level by adding dental water additives.
VOHC-approved products have undergone at least two clinical trials to prove that they work. And while no amount of at-home dental care can replace a thorough dental prophylaxis, products like drinking water additives can make a difference in overall oral health.
Dr. Erica Irish
The TropiClean Fresh Breath Dental Health Solution boasts the Veterinary Oral Health Council’s (VOHC) Seal of Acceptance (Trusted Source) . A dental product with this seal on the packaging has been shown to effectively reduce tartar and plaque buildup during clinical trials. Of course, it’s only effective if your dog drinks the water with the additive.
Naturél Promise helps fight plaque and tartar and keeps bad breath at bay. Pet parents praise how this dental water additive has kept their dog’s teeth looking great, even as their pets age.
TropiClean’s Fresh Breath Advanced Whitening Dental Health Solution is packed with extra ingredients that dissolve, destroy, and defend against plaque. It can also help keep your pup’s teeth looking clean and white.
Pup tasting dental water additives.
Here’s a comparison of how the products stack up against each other on paper.
*Price on Amazon or Chewy at the time of our review
While many of these popular products are online, these didn’t make the top of our list because they lacked the VOHC seal. They’re OK, just not the best. Here are our honorable mentions:
Nylabone Advanced Oral Care Water Additives for Dogs is a popular product and a hit on the internet. Others have suggested it, but there are a few reasons why we don’t recommend it.
Nylabone’s water additive may be all the rage online, but pet parents will want to beware. Dog owners often want to avoid products with artificial ingredients and dyes. This product contains blue dye, which could be irritating to your dog. Though it temporarily reduces bad breath, the overpowering peppermint smell is said to be a bit too much.
Dental water additives are liquids formulated to clean and freshen your dog’s mouth. Think mouthwash for your fur baby. Most pet parents look for dental water to combat offensive breath, but it’s also a holistic way to promote oral health. Though dental water additives are no replacement for daily brushing, they offer many benefits. Certain ingredients help kill the bacteria in the mouth that cause tartar and plaque formation on the teeth to help prevent gum disease.
Dogs of all ages can benefit from dental water additives. This is especially true if your pet dislikes teeth brushing or is a senior dog. Adding dental water additives to your dog’s dental routine is a simple step that you can take to keep their pearly whites in great shape.
👉 Dental water additives work best when you change the water every day!
Small and toy breeds, as well as Greyhounds, are more prone to periodontal disease than other dogs. If you own one of these breeds, starting them on a water additive or offering other at-home dental care is a good idea. A dental powder, toothbrushing, or dental chews may all be worthwhile. The more at-home dental care you can provide, the more likely your dog’s teeth and gums will stay healthy.
Supplementing daily brushing with dental water additives and other products can improve your dog’s dental health. According to the College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell, dental sprays may also help prevent plaque buildup. (Trusted Source) Consider incorporating one of these vet-approved plaque wipes like Healthymouth Anti-Plaque Topical Wipes for Dogs, freshening sprays such as Healthymouth Topical Spray for Dogs, or chews like Virbac C.E.T. VeggieDent Dental Chews into your dog’s daily routine.
Even with daily brushing and annual cleanings, tartar can form below the gumline. Tartar formation is a breeding ground for the bacteria that leads to gingivitis in dogs. If left untreated, gingivitis can progress into periodontal disease or gum disease, the leading health problem in dogs. Look for common symptoms like bleeding gums, problems eating, and bad breath. A yearly professional cleaning is generally recommended but can vary by breed. If you notice drops of blood left on toys or food dishes, as well as mouth sensitivity, then you should discuss these signs with a vet.
Dental water additives are like mouthwash for dogs, which cleans and freshens your dog’s mouth. While dental water additives are no replacement for daily brushing, they’ll freshen your dog’s breath, prevent bacterial growth, fight plaque, and reduce tartar buildup.
Add a dental water additive to your dog’s water, a liquid created to clean your dog’s mouth and freshen their breath.
Many dental water additives have benefits, such as fighting plaque, reducing tartar buildup, freshening breath, and preventing gum disease.
Do not use Listerine on your dog’s teeth. They can’t gargle with mouthwash like humans can, which means they’ll be swallowing or ingesting chemicals like methyl salicylate, menthol, and ethanol, which can be dangerous for their health. If your dog swallows Listerine, it’s best to contact your vet or the Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661.
No. Hydrogen peroxide will cause your dog to vomit, so do not give this to your dog. Only use products with the VOHC seal of approval, as these products are safe and effective in keeping your dog’s teeth and gums healthy.
