Having healthy teeth and gums is one of the most important ways to help your dog avoid hidden infection and pain," veterinarian Sarah Machell, DVM and lead veterinarian with Vetster, told The Spruce Pets. They contain similar ingredients as toothpaste and you wipe your dog’s teeth with them to help reduce plaque and tartar. What other products can help with keeping dog teeth clean?

Each box of Vet's Best comes with 50 finger wipes, which can last six months if you brush your dog's teeth twice a week.There is concern within the veterinary community that this type of cleaning isn’t effective. Here are some concerns: The closer your dog’s diet is to the diet of his wild cousins … raw meat, organs and bones … the better it will be for his teeth. Chewing, gnawing and tearing meat and meaty bones will help loosen plaque on his teeth. It’s also thought that live enzymes in raw diets help maintain oral health. Despite what the manufacturers say, kibble does not clean your dog’s teeth.

This enzymatic dog toothpaste from Virbac is offered in five flavors—Poultry, Malt, Vanilla Mint, Beef, and Seafood. We tested with the Poultry flavor and were please to find that it had no detectable scent. All flavors are tan-colored paste, but it will not stain fur or surfaces once the product dissipates. When our tube of Virbac was brand new we found it difficult to keep extra paste from coming out, so be careful when squeezing. Since dog toothpastes are made with flavors that mimic the foods that dogs already enjoy—like poultry or beef—you can start by just letting your pup taste the toothpaste from your finger. The formula for Vet’s Best Enzymatic Dog Toothpaste is made with aloe and neem oil to soothe irritated and inflamed gums along with grapefruit seed extra, baking soda, and enzymes to remove plaque, tartar, and bacteria. In between cleaning sessions with a toothbrush or finger brush, the clear gel toothpaste can be applied to a dog's tongue to neutralize odor-causing buildup in their mouth.If your dog does need a professional teeth cleaning, you can maintain your dog’s teeth with anesthesia-free dental cleanings after that. At that time, the technician can advise you if a more intensive cleaning or dental care is needed beyond their scope. If your dog does tolerate toothbrushing, these should not be used as a replacement. You should consider these as complements to their daily brushing routine and veterinary dental cleanings. Importance of Professional Dental Cleanings The pH in a dog’s mouth differs greatly from a human’s mouth, and the majority of toothpaste products made for people contain Xylitol, a sweetener that is highly toxic for dogs. Xylitol can cause blood sugar to drop in dogs which which can lead to liver damage.