The best dental water additives for dogs in 2024

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.

The TropiClean Fresh Breath Dental Health Solution boasts the Veterinary Oral Health Council’s (VOHC) Seal of Acceptance Trusted Source This is an approved Trusted Source for betterpet. Learn more about Trusted Sources . 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.

• Ingredients. TropiClean formulated this dental health product with safe, natural ingredients proven to fight tooth decay, like bacteria-busting zinc gluconate.
• Clinical testing. This dental water additive underwent clinical testing and has the VOHC Seal of Acceptance and National Animal Supplement Council (NASC) Quality Seal.
• Do dogs mind the taste? According to reviews, even picky dogs didn’t mind the taste. One reviewer noted that it was the only dental additive that all of their dogs, including fosters, would accept. Others note that their dogs don’t even notice.
• Smell. The Fresh Breath Dental Health Solution has a faint, fresh scent.
• “Fresh breath” time. This dental additive claims to improve your doggie’s breath for up to 12 hours and make kisses more fun. Reviewers support the claim that it freshens breath, although none note how long it lasts.

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.

• Ingredients. Naturél Promise’s formula includes natural ingredients that keep your pet’s mouth fresh and clean. This product uses antimicrobial agents cetylpyridinium chloride and zinc gluconate to fight dental disease.
• Clinical testing. Pet parents can feel confident in Naturél Promise’s dental health solution, which has undergone clinical testing and earned the VOHC Seal of Acceptance and NASC Quality Seal.
• Do dogs mind the taste? Reviewers say their dogs didn’t know the water bowl was full of ingredients to bolster their oral health. They lapped their water up as normal.
• Smell. This option is odor-free, so pups are less likely to detect it.
• “Fresh breath” time. Naturél Promise says its product can freshen breath for 12 hours.

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.

• Ingredients. Sodium, citric acid, and zinc are known for keeping your dog’s teeth clean and healthy.
• Clinical testing. This product underwent clinical testing and has the VOHC seal and NASC quality seal.
• Do dogs mind the taste? Reviewers say their dog drank the dental water additive mixture with zero suspicion.
• Smell. The dental water additive has a light, minty smell — sort of like mouthwash. But once added to their dog’s water, reviewers say they couldn’t smell it.
• “Fresh breath” time. TropiClean says that it can freshen your dog’s breath for half a day when used as directed.

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:

• Bodhi Dog Peppermint Fresh Breath Dental Water. Reviewers’ pups seem to enjoy the Bodhi Dog Peppermint Fresh Breath Dental Water. Surprisingly, they weren’t put off by the smell.
• Dechra Vetradent Water Additive for Dogs and Cats. Though this product doesn’t have the VOHC seal, it does have proven ingredients like citric acid and zinc chloride. It’s odorless and flavorless, so your dog won’t avoid their water, and it comes with a handy measuring cup.
• Oxyfresh Premium Pet Dental Care Solution. Oxyfresh claims its dental care product is flavorless and odorless.
• Petlab Co. Dental Wash. Petlab Co. claims its ingredients break down plaque, but without the VOHC seal, it’s hard to be sure.

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.

Does your dog need a dental water additive?

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.

Dental wipes, sprays, and chews can help, too

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 This is an approved Trusted Source for betterpet. Learn more about Trusted Sources 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.