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- Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.
Dog mouthwashes and dental water additives can level up your teeth cleaning routine at home. By breaking down the bacteria on your dog’s teeth or killing it all together, these products can help keep your pup’s mouth clean and breath fresh.
And while dog mouthwashes can’t effectively take the place of brushing and professional vet dentistry, they can be a great addition to your overall dental health care plan—especially for dogs prone to periodontal disease. But how do you know which dog mouthwashes and water additives are safe and effective for your pup?
First, it’s important to note that only mouthwashes specifically designed for dogs are safe to use (no human rinses!). You’ll also want to check the label to make sure the product is free of xylitol and birch sugars, which are toxic to dogs. The Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) is also a great resource and has a list of approved mouthwashes on its website that it updates annually. And as always, talk to your vet before introducing anything new into your dog’s overall wellness plan.
With that in mind, we’ve rounded up some of the top dog mouthwashes and water additives on the market.
- Best Overall: TropiClean Dental Dog Mouthwash
- Best Odorless: Dechra Vetradent Water Additive
- Best Tartar Control: Bluestem Oral Rinse for Dogs
- Best for Bad Breath: Naturel Promise Fresh Dental Water Additive
- Best for Allergies: Oxyfresh Premium Pet Water Additive
- Best for Dry Mouth: Oratene Enzymatic Brushless Dog Mouthwash
Best Overall: TropiClean Original Dog Dental Mouthwash
Not only is it a highly-rated dog mouthwash, TropiClean has both the VOHC Seal of Acceptance and the National Animal Supplement Council (NASC) Quality Seal. Made with naturally derived ingredients, this dental water additive has zinc gluconate to fight bacteria and green tea leaf extract to freshen your pup’s breath.
TropiClean also comes in a variety of formulas to fit into your dog’s overall wellness routine, including versions that target your dog’s hip and joint health, skin and coat, and digestive support. There are even lines for puppies and advanced teeth whitening!
Key Features:
- Approved by the VOHC
- Earned Quality Seal by NASC
- Various formulas—from teeth whitening to digestive support
- Has zinc gluconate to fight bacteria; green tea leaf for fresh breath
Best Odorless: Dechra Vetradent Water Additive
Both odorless and tasteless, this colorless dog mouthwash is great for pups who might be turned off by an added flavor or scent in their drinking water. Pet parents like that their dogs don’t seem to notice it, and a measuring cup comes in handy for daily use.
Made with Biotrate Technology, this water additive was designed to maintain the pH balance in your dog’s mouth and help reduce the bacteria that cause plaque and tartar. Active ingredients include sodium citrate, citric acid, and zinc chloride.
Key Features:
- Approved by the VOHC
- Odorless and tasteless
- Designed to fight plaque and maintain pH balance
- Comes with a handy measuring cup
Best Tartar Control: Bluestem Oral Rinse for Dogs
This dog mouthwash by Bluestem uses its own technology called coactiv+, which was developed to break down biofilm in your dog’s mouth. Essentially, binding agents attach to the bacteria and wash it away, which softens the tartar and makes it easy to break down when your dog chews. The company even conducted a third-party study and found that the participating dogs saw a 25.4% reduction in tartar after using the mouthwash for 84 days.
Made in Canada with 100% food-grade ingredients, Bluestem products are recognized under Health Canada’s Veterinary Health Products (VHP) program. This mouthwash has also been accepted by the VOHC.
Key Features:
- Approved by the VOHC
- Scientific technology to break down biofilm
- Available in chicken flavor and vanilla mint
- Made in Canada with food-grade ingredients
Best for Bad Breath: Naturel Promise Fresh Dental Water Additive
Made from naturally derived ingredients—which include citric acid, green tea leaf extract, and zinc gluconate—this odor-free dog mouthwash promises to keep your pup’s breath fresh for up to 12 hours. Reviewers confirm seeing a noticeable change in their pup’s bad breath after using the product, saying it’s one of the easiest and most effective methods they’ve tried.
Along with the plant-based ingredients, Naturel Promise comes in eco-friendly packaging. It’s been approved by both the VOHC and the National Animal Supplement Council (NASC).
Key Features:
- Approved by the VOHC and NASC
- Made with natural plant-based ingredients
- Promises to freshen breath for 12 hours
- Comes in eco-friendly packaging
- Available in a hip and joint formula, too
Best for Allergies: Oxyfresh Premium Pet Water Additive
A top-rated pick on Amazon, this Oxyfresh mouthwash is free of dye, artificial flavors, and toxins—which can irritate pups with allergies and sensitive stomachs. Made in the USA with non-GMO ingredients, this water additive is also cruelty-free.
Pet parents like that it’s odorless and doesn’t have a taste, making it an ideal choice for picky pups. This mouthwash, however, has not yet been recognized by the VOHC.
Key Features:
- Free of dye, artificial flavors, and toxins
- Cruelty-free, non-GMO ingredients
- Odorless and tasteless for picky pups
Best for Dry Mouth: Oratene Enzymatic Brushless Dog Mouthwash
Offering a patented double enzyme system, this water additive by Oratene makes it hard for plaque to bind to your dog’s teeth. Free of detergents like sodium laureth sulfate, this product can help pups who are experiencing dry mouth symptoms, including inflamed gums, cracked tongues, and bad breath.
This mouthwash is also free of flavor and suitable for both dogs and cats—an economical option for multi-pet households. Keep in mind, though, that it has yet to be accepted by the VOHC.
Key Features:
- Patented double enzyme formula
- Free of detergents and flavor
- Can help alleviate dry mouth symptoms
- Suitable for cats, too
How We Chose
The dog mouthwashes and dental waters featured here were selected based on a combination of our own hands-on testing, a comprehensive look at customer reviews across a wide variety of retail platforms, and interviews with veterinary experts. We prioritized ingredients, effectiveness, and product quality. We’re also guided by the experience of living and playing alongside our own much-loved and strongly opinionated pets, who are never stingy with their feedback.
