As a dog owner, you want to be sure you are making your dog’s health a priority. Taking them to the vet for checkups, feeding them high-quality food, and having regular grooming sessions are great ways to keep your pup healthy and happy.

However, a dog’s dental health can often get overlooked. A dental water additive is an easy way to help keep your dog’s mouth healthy. While these products shouldn’t replace annual dental cleaning by your vet or regularly brushing your dog’s teeth at home, they’re beneficial supplements that support good oral health.

We gathered our favorites in this list with reviews to help you choose the best one. Your dog will be on their way to cleaner teeth and fresher breath in no time.

 

A Quick Comparison of Our Favorite Picks in 2024

The 8 Best Dog Dental Water Additives

1. TropiClean Fresh Breath Water Additive — Best Overall

Adding TropiClean Fresh Breath Water Additive to every refill of your dog’s water bowl does more than just keep their mouths healthy. This is the best overall dog dental water additive for several reasons. It has no smell or taste, so your dog won’t be able to detect it in the water. In addition to fighting and controlling the buildup of plaque and tartar, this product includes omega fatty acids to support coat and skin health.

This product uses a blend of ingredients, including decaffeinated green tea leaf extract, to fight the smelly bacteria that leads to your dog’s bad breath. However, the results may not be noticeable until after 14 days of use. Once you confirm that it is working, it can keep your dog’s mouth fresh for up to 12 hours. Just shake the bottle, and then add one cap full of the solution to every 16 ounces of your dog’s water.

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2. Dental Fresh Advanced Whitening Water Additive — Best Value

The powerful but gentle formula in Dental Fresh Advanced Whitening Water Additive makes this the best dog dental water additive for the money. It reduces teeth stains and the bacteria that cause plaque. There are no flavors or odors in this additive. It also helps freshen breath over time with continued use. This product is also safe for cats to use, which is helpful if you have a multi-pet household with easily accessible water bowls. Just add one capful to every 8 ounces of water.

While the product claims to be odorless, some dog owners have reported being able to detect a smell to it after opening the bottle. This additive may also cause gas in some dogs with sensitive stomachs.

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3. Oratene Brushless Oral Care Water Additive — Premium Choice

Two pumps of Oratene Brushless Oral Care Water Additive in every 4 cups of water are enough to keep your dog’s mouth clean. This product is safe for daily use and uses a gentle formula to remove plaque from teeth. This additive also contains enzymes that reduce bacteria and make plaque film impossible to stick to your dog’s teeth.

While this product may work well to reduce and remove plaque, it doesn’t do much for freshening breath. By eliminating odor-causing bacteria, bad breath can be reduced, though not right away. The results will be noticeable over time.

Another thing to note is that this product contains sorbitol. While this is not poisonous to dogs, it can have a laxative effect on dogs with sensitive stomachs.

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4. Ora-Clens Dental Water Additive — Best for Puppies

The Ora-Clens Dental Water Additive is safe to use on dogs and cats over 8 weeks old, making it our best pick for puppies. Just add 1 teaspoon of this liquid to 8 ounces of your pet’s drinking water, and they will be on their way to cleaner teeth and fresher breath.

This product contains no added sugars or sugar substitutes, so it is a good choice for diabetic dogs. It is also an easy way to keep your dog’s teeth bright and shiny due to its whitening properties. While this product claims to be odorless, some dog owners have noticed a faint smell when opening the bottle.

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5. Oxyfresh Oral Hygiene Solution

The Oxyfresh Oral Hygiene Solution uses Oxygene and zinc to neutralize bad breath and prevent it from recurring. It cleans teeth and prevents the buildup of plaque and tartar, keeping dental diseases at bay. This patented formula also freshens breath and keeps gums healthy. The non-toxic solution is safe for dogs and cats.

The solution is tasteless and odorless, so your dog won’t detect it in their water. Just add one capful to every 4 cups of water. It can be consumed immediately after adding. Some dog owners were pleasantly surprised at how well this solution worked to combat their dogs’ bad breath. Even for elderly dogs with existing dental issues, there was a significant change in odor level.

If you’re using this product for cats, some seem to know that it has been added to their water and will refuse to drink it.

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6. Nylabone Advanced Oral Care Tartar Remover

A scientifically formulated blend of ingredients called Denta-CTM is in the formula for Nylabone Advanced Oral Care Tartar Remover. These ingredients remove odors that cause bad breath by altering the pH of your dog’s saliva. They also help reduce and control plaque and tartar buildup. Just 1 tablespoon per 32 ounces of water is all your dog needs for a healthier mouth.

The smell of this liquid has been compared to mouthwash. Some dogs didn’t want to try it. Other dogs tried it and then loved it, almost drinking the entire bowl at one time. Dogs should not consume more than the recommended dosage. This product is not suitable for cats.

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7. Bluestem Oral Care Water Additive

The Bluestem Oral Care Water Additive uses Coactiv+ technology, which is a unique blend of food-grade ingredients that safely work to protect teeth against the buildup of plaque and tartar. This safe and gentle dental supplement breaks down biofilm on teeth before it has a chance to harden and build up. By reducing harmful bacteria in your dog’s mouth, it also works to freshen breath. Best of all, it won’t leave any residue in your dog’s water bowl. It’s safe for cats, so it works well in multi-pet households. Two capfuls should be added to every 2.5 cups of water, which is more than some other products on this list.

Some dog owners reported improvement in their dog’s breath in just a few days.

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8. Petpost Dog Dental Solution Water Additive

Just 1 teaspoon of Petpost Dog Dental Solution Water Additive to every 8 ounces of your dog’s water is enough to keep bad breath and plaque away. This formula is flavorless and easy to use. It’s formulated to control bacteria that cause bad breath.

It works to naturally remove plaque and tartar while protecting your dog’s teeth. Apple extract and mint oils combine to reduce odors and keep the mouth healthy. These gentle and safe ingredients give your dog’s teeth a powerful cleaning.

Some dog owners have reported using half the recommended amount in the water to get their dog used to it if they were showing hesitation. Once their dog drank with no issues, they increased the dosage to the proper one.

Buyer’s Guide – Finding the Best Dog Dental Water Additive

Dental disease, or periodontal disease, in dogs is caused by an overgrowth of bacteria in their mouths. Brushing your dog’s teeth, providing dental chews, and having their teeth professionally cleaned are all great ways to keep your dog’s mouth healthy.

Water additives are supplemental products that can help keep things from getting out of control. While they aren’t meant to take the place of all other teeth cleaning methods, they can help your dog have easier teeth cleanings and ward off dental disease.

When choosing the best water additive for your dog, there are a few things to consider before you buy.

Ingredients

Natural ingredients are effective at fighting bacteria that cause bad breath and plaque. Green tea, cinnamon, aloe vera, and ginger all have anti-inflammatory properties that help calm irritated gums.

Chemical additives will also work to clean your dog’s teeth. Glycerin and citric acid are examples of ingredients that may not be natural but do the job. If your dog has stomach sensitivities, they may not be able to tolerate too many added chemicals.

Safety

Always make sure the additive that you choose is safe for your dog to consume. After all, they are ingesting this additive, not just spitting it out as we do with mouthwash. Any artificial sweeteners should be noted in the ingredients. Most of them are safe for dogs to consume. Stay away from xylitol, which is toxic to dogs.

Taste

Dogs don’t want water that tastes too different from what they are used to. This could make them stop drinking altogether. If you find an additive that your dog won’t touch, try switching to another brand.

Many formulas mask their flavors without losing any of the dental health benefits. Odorless, flavorless options are good to try, especially if you have a picky dog.

Do Water Additives Work?

They do but they can’t do everything. When used properly as part of a dental health routine, they have amazing benefits. Some dogs refuse to let you brush their teeth. In this case, water additives are a good everyday tool to help eliminate harmful buildup on the teeth.

If you can brush your dog’s teeth every day, this will help the water additives work even more effectively.

Nothing is perfect, though, and your dog may eventually wind up with plaque and tartar on their teeth. Your vet can determine the right time for professional teeth cleaning.

Advantages of Water Additives

Final Thoughts

Now that you know how to choose a dental water additive, you have so many options to find the best one for your dog. Our best overall choice is TropiClean Fresh Breath Water Additive. It includes omega fatty acids to keep your dog’s coat healthy. For the best value, we like Dental Fresh Advanced Whitening Water Additive. This brightens teeth while eliminating bacteria. We hope that you find the right product for you and your dog!

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Featured Image Credit: ALEX_UGALEK, Shutterstock