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Taking care of your canines’ canines is a vital part of their daily care, right along with exercise, brushing, and feeding. And while there are plenty of ready-made dog toothpastes on the market, why not DIY?
Making your own dog toothpaste ensures you’ll always know exactly what your dog is ingesting. You’ll be able to tailor the ingredients to their specific needs and preferences, which can help make toothbrushing time easier for everyone and can be a necessity for dogs with allergies.
Here’s how to safely and quickly make homemade dog toothpaste.
Dog-Friendly Toothpaste Ingredients
The key to homemade dog toothpaste is striking a balance between savory ingredients your dog will love and mild abrasives and herbal breath fresheners that will leave their mouth clean. Fortunately, these ingredients are often affordable, easy to find, and may even come in dog-specific versions.
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is a common ingredient that’s not only easy to get a dog to accept but is also good for maintaining a shiny, healthy coat. Not sure what to look for? Here’s one designed specifically for your dog.
Bouillon
A lot of homemade recipes include broth or bouillon (extra points if you DIY the broth too!) because dogs love the meaty flavor.
Baking Soda
You can use a small amount of baking soda for its mildly abrasive texture and as an odor neutralizer. Caution: use no more than the amount suggested below, as baking soda in excess can upset your dog’s tummy.
Breath Freshener
Need options for fresh breath? Try small quantities of mint leaves, parsley, or cinnamon—these are all dog safe!
Can Dogs Have Human Toothpaste?
Short answer: No! Human toothpaste contains a slew of ingredients that can be harmful to dogs. Your dog doesn’t spit out their toothpaste as you would, and while fluoride, foaming agents, and detergents are fine in small doses, your dog would swallow much higher than the recommended dose.
3 Recipes for Homemade Dog Toothpaste
Ready to try? Here are some quick recipes for DIY dog toothpaste.
Basic Formula
- 1 tablespoon baking soda
- 1 tablespoon water or broth
Mix into a paste and apply a small amount to a toothbrush specially made for dogs (like this simple, affordable dual-ended brush). Brush surfaces of teeth and inner cheeks thoroughly.
Minty Fresh
- 1/4 cup coconut oil
- 1 cube of chicken or beef bullion
- 3 tablespoons baking soda
- 6–7 mint leaves
Put ingredients into your food processor and pulse until fully combined. This homemade dog toothpaste mixture will keep for two weeks, stored in an airtight container in your fridge. Use only a pea-sized amount.
Spice it Up
via Petaware
- 1 tablespoon beef bouillon granules dissolved in 1 tablespoon of hot water
- 2 tablespoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/3 cup coconut oil
Combine ingredients in a bowl. Keep refrigerated in an airtight container.
Why Not Wing It?
Now that you’ve got some basic recipes down, you can play around with different combinations and ratios of ingredients. Just start with a basic baking soda and broth paste, and add other safe ingredients to your dog’s preference. Try a cinna-mint combo! Run out of coconut oil? Throw in some peanut butter!
Get playful with ingredients, but always make sure all ingredients for your homemade dog toothpaste are on the safe list, and take note of which flavors your dog prefers so you can customize future batches to their tastes.
Best Toothpaste for Puppies
Getting your puppy familiar with a brushing routine could help to make the task easier as he gets older. If you are looking for a toothpaste for puppies, here are some of the top puppy formulas out there.
RADIUS Organic Canine Oral Care Kit
This organic tooth-brushing kit is designed specifically for puppies. The toothpaste is a blend of organic sweet potato (yum!) and coconut oil to help prevent cavities in younger dogs. The toothbrush, with extra-soft bristles, is designed for puppies up to 18 months.
Find on AmazonTropiclean Fresh Breath Toothpaste for Puppies
The TropiClean toothpaste gel for puppies gets to work on puppy teeth to prevent tartar and plaque buildup. This gel is for puppies 16 weeks and older and can be used to help maintain good dental hygiene. The gel can be used with or without a toothbrush.
Find on Amazon Find on Chewy Find on PetCoArm and Hammer Dental Bundle for Puppies
This dental bundle contains everything you need for a fresh start to dental hygiene for your puppy. It comes with a vanilla-flavored toothpaste and dental chews to help your pup develop good chewing habits (and keep those teeth clean). As you might expect, this toothpaste uses baking soda to help reduce tartar and plaque build-up.
Find on ChewyAfter Brushing Your Dog’s Teeth With Homemade Paste
Reward your pup’s good behavior and patience with a treat or dental dog chew, and some extra snuggles and kisses. Remember, brushing should be a daily habit, so you want to make it as pleasant as possible for you and your dog. Make it a bonding experience where you’re totally focused on your canine companion, providing them with love, care, and affection. If your dog enjoys a good game of tug, try out some rope toys that can help floss your pup’s teeth between brushings while you play, making oral hygiene more fun.
In addition to daily brushing, your dog should have their teeth regularly cleaned by a veterinarian or veterinary dentist for the best possible oral health—and longevity. If your dog has bad breath that doesn’t get better with brushing, or if you notice redness or inflammation in the gums, schedule a dental exam ASAP.
Want more info on keeping your dog’s pearly whites healthy? Check more dog dental health articles below.
Further Reading
- Keeping ‘Em Fresh: The Best Dog Toothbrushes
- The Best Dog Toothpastes for Fresh Breath and Healthy Gums
- 3 Clever Ways to Stop Canine Plaque and Bad Breath
- A Vet Tech Reveals Great Dental Chews for Dogs
- How to Brush Your Dog’s Teeth and Keep All Your Fingers
- Puppy Teething Guide: When Will They Lose a Tooth? Does it Hurt?
