Every time I visit the Vet’s office with any of my pets, the doctor checks the animal’s teeth. And almost always, the Vet cautions me about visible plaque on my pet’s teeth. One of my cats is much more susceptible to teeth and gum issues than my other pets, which isn’t uncommon.

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Fortunately, my dog’s dental reports have been good. However, that doesn’t mean I’m going to avoid preventative strategies. Dental issues in pets – particularly maintenance care – is a rising concern among pet owners. My last visit to SuperZoo (an annual pet-industry trade expo) validated this trend, and many companies are busy inventing new products that address the issue of cat and dog dental health.

I was given these five dental products to try out with my dog, and here is my experience. But first …

Why is dog dental health important?

Just like humans, dogs can suffer from plaque buildup, gum disease, tooth decay, and bad breath. Left untreated, these issues don’t just affect the mouth—they can lead to serious health complications throughout the body.

Maintaining good dental health in dogs helps prevent periodontal disease, a common and painful condition caused by bacterial infection of the gums. This disease can lead to tooth loss, chronic pain, and difficulty eating. Worse, bacteria from infected gums can enter the bloodstream and affect vital organs such as the heart, liver, and kidneys, contributing to life-threatening conditions.

Also, you might end up saving money. Preventative care less expensive than treating advanced dental disease. Let’s review ways to help you maintain good dog dental health.

Five New Products for Dogs’ Teeth

Animora Cranberry Dental Gel

Starting with the made in Canada product, Animora Cranberry Dental Gel. This gel is classic dog toothpaste – yes, that’s now a classic item. The product promises to improve health in both cats and dogs by fighting bad breath, tartar and plaque buildup.

The idea is to first apply the product to food, so your dog gets used to the taste. Then use your finger to rub it on your dog’s gums. Graduate to using Animora Dental Gel on a doggie toothbrush and brush your dog’s teeth as you would your own.

Review: I tried it by putting it on my figure and rubbing Animora Dental Gel on my dog’s gums, the best I could. My dog’s spaniel snout is long so getting to the back teeth is a little challenging and a bit dangerous. But she let me rub it on her gums easily, though I had to do it quickly. The key to this product is to do it frequently and get your dog used to the process. Or … use the gel with the Animora Dental Toy (see below).

Stella & Chewy’s Dental Delights

If brushing isn’t possible, or maybe in addition to brushing, there is always the traditional dental chews. Stella & Chewy’s Dental Delights (affliate link) are chews with many ridges and cone shaped to scrub your dog’s teeth as they chew.

Chews come in assorted sizes – the company gave my spaniel size medium in chicken and parsley flavour. Parsley is a breath freshener, and chicken flavour encourages the dog to chew. The advantage of these chews is they are easy – if your dog likes to chew them, it’s little work for you. The disadvantage is that it’s hard to judge which teeth are getting attention and which aren’t.

Review: my dog took here Stella & Chewy dental chew willingly and chewed it intermittently during a few days. Small piece that needed to be discarded, but that took a while, because she likes to carry her chews around with her until she decides to use them. It’s common for my dog to chew on and off to alleviate boredom.

Teef for Life Protekin

Teef for Life takes care of dog dental health by adding probiotics to your dog’s water. Protektin, a product from Teef for Life, seems complicated at first – because it comes in a ‘kit’ – but the concept is actually simple: order the Protekin kit and you get a glass jar, small scoop and desiccant, a small square packet that you put in the jar to keep the Protekin42 powder fresh. After you have the kit, you buy the powder packets then store the powder in the glass jar.

The packet seems small, but it goes a long way. You only need to add one or two small scoops (and they are small) into a pitcher of water. Then store that pitcher in the refrigerator and add that water to your pet’s water dishes.

According to the company, the benefits are gradual. Microbiome and breath improve after one to two weeks; gum tissue improves and appears pinker after two to five weeks; and plaque and tartar are reduced between five to eight weeks. The powder apparently contains components that block bad bacteria and absorbs fungal toxins.

The colour of the water might change a bit, but according to Teef for Life, this is normal. This product is made in the USA.

Review: It more challenging to determine its effectiveness, even over time and really requires a vet check before using Teef for Life and again eight weeks after. But it is easy to use – simply remember to use the jug of water in the fridge every time you fill the pet water bowl (or bowls as in our case).

And it can be used easily for cats. In my house, the cats drink out of any of the water bowls around the house. So, as long as there are no adverse health effects that I notice, I’ll continue to use this product in my pets’ water (until it runs out).

Twist & Lick Dog Oral Gel

Admittedly, Twist & Lick Oral Gel is my favourite option because it’s easy, innovative, and my dog didn’t run under the bed when she saw it coming. If you’re able to brush your dog’s teeth with a toothbrush, good job. But I think that’s asking a lot. Vetality looked outside the box – or beyond the conventional way of cleaning our teeth – and developed a flavoured, lickable, brush-free method of maintaining dog dental health.

Twist & Lick Oral Gel (affiliate link) is simple to use. It does look like roll-up deodorant – but that’s just it. It rolls up. Turn the dial at the bottom, let a bit of gel squeeze through the holes at the top, then let your dog lick the gel off.

That’s it. And the gel comes in flavours, chicken, or peanut butter, so it’s desirable for the dog. The product uses what the company calls ProLong Technology, which is a proprietary blend of sorbitol, glycerin, water, soy lecithin, mineral oil, and natural flavour. This made in the USA product promises to clean and whiten dog teeth and help control plaque and tartar.

Review: Did my dog like Twist and Lick for dogs? Yes, she quickly licked the gel off the top of the dispensers without encouragement. It took me a few minutes to figure out how to get the gel started, but once I did, it’s easy to roll up a small amount every day. Let your dog lick it off. Wipe off the dispenser with each use. That’s it.

Time will tell how effectively it works – my dog’s teeth fortunately aren’t noticeably covered in tartar, so a visual watch of whitening is the only way to tell. According to directions, I’ll use it everyday until I see results then use only two to three times a week for maintenance. Overall, it’s easy to use and can’t hurt.

Animora Dental Toy

The Animora Dental Toy is easy to use – it’s a dog toy chew. Shaped like a starfish, the toy has ridges and bumps designed to clean your dog’s teeth as it chews. This Canadian company offers different sized dental toys for different-sized dogs (obviously).

For added benefit, fill crevices with Animora Cranberry Dental Gel (see above). The company suggests you take the toy away once all the gel is gone. Also, clean the toy after each use. Note that this toy is not intended for hard chewers. Supervise use.

Review: My dog liked the Animora Dog Chew enough to run off with it when I was taking photos of her chewing the Animora Dental Toy. She chewed it with and without the gel. I think this dog dental option was her favourite, likely because it was like playing with any other toy.

Writer bio: Sherri Telenko has been a professional writer for decades and a travel writer for the last two. She’s a member of TMAC (Travel Media Association of Canada) and Dog Writers Association of America and travels almost weekly with her canine companion, Victoria. Contact Sherri at dogtrotting.net here. All written content is original, written by a person, and based on experience and research. Please subscribe!