Brushing regularly is as crucial for dogs as it is for us because it removes plaque, a layer of bacteria that accumulates as your pooch eats. If allowed to develop, plaque can lead to problems such as gum disease, tooth decay, and bad breath. Eventually, it will turn into tartar, which usually needs to be removed by a veterinarian, leading to costly dental bills.
A high-quality toothbrush is, therefore, a great way of keeping teeth in tip-top shape and avoiding expensive trips to the vets, but there are so many brushing methods available that it can be difficult to know where to start. But don’t worry, because we’re here to help you find the most suitable toothbrush for you and your pet!
Quick List - Top Toothbrushes for Dogs
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Regular manual toothbrushes are an effective tool for keeping your dog’s teeth in great shape. Dog toothbrushes are designed slightly differently: their long, narrow shape enables you to reach teeth at the back of your pet’s mouth, and they’re sturdy enough to allow firm brushing with gentle bristles that are tested to combat plaque without harming your pet’s gums.
Many feature ergonomic grips, so you can turn and twist to effectively clean every part of your dog’s mouth without losing your grasp. They’ll need replacing regularly but regular manual toothbrushes are a simple and reliable method of keeping your dog’s teeth in great condition.
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Teeth can vary quite dramatically in certain breeds, and sometimes one toothbrush isn’t enough to clean all areas of your dog’s mouth. Double-ended toothbrushes solve this problem by placing two differently sized brush heads at either end of a single brush. Rather than switching between two separate brushes when cleaning your dog’s teeth, you’ll instead flip the brush to use the more appropriate side.
Particularly in larger dogs, the bigger brush head is great for canine teeth, while the smaller can brush those difficult to reach bits at the back of the mouth. Two brush heads will also benefit those with multiple dogs of different sizes or a puppy who will get bigger! With a double-ended brush, you’ve got everything covered.
Multi-sided toothbrushes take everything that works in a traditional toothbrush and step it up a gear for an even deeper clean. The addition of one or more extra heads greatly increases the cleaning area, meaning more effective cleaning, more quickly - particularly as you’ll be able to clean both sides of your dog’s teeth simultaneously.
You can even find triple-headed toothbrushes with two opposing brushes and a third that picks up any lingering dirt from the bottom of your dog’s teeth. Like regular toothbrushes, they’ll need replacing periodically, but when the additional benefits are considered, multi-sided toothbrushes are clearly the superior choice.
As the name suggests, finger brushes are small toothbrushes that slide onto your finger. Unlike manual toothbrushes, which can require blindly reaching for your dog’s back teeth, finger brushes offer greater precision when removing plaque – because you can feel your dog’s teeth through the brush, you’ll know exactly what areas you’re cleaning.
Finger Brushes are also perfect for dogs who may feel uneasy about unfamiliar objects, such as toothbrushes, being placed in their mouth. They’re likely to find the sensation strange at first, but rest assured it’s something they soon get used to!
The flexible silicone material is also scientifically designed to adapt with different gum types, while the bristles are highly effective at cleaning gaps between your dog’s teeth. The process can be quite labour-intensive, however, and not particularly fun for you or your dog. That said, if results are more important to you than convenience, finger brushes are a great way of keeping your dog’s teeth in tip-top shape.
Electric toothbrushes give us extra power when cleaning our own teeth, and they can also provide an extra deep clean for your dog. The electrically powered bristles mean no elbow grease is required and cleaning your dog’s teeth is much easier on your wrists. Don’t worry about the rapid motion of the bristles hurting your dog - they’re made from soft silicone to ensure no damage to teeth or gums.
With most electric toothbrushes, you’ll also get a variety of handy features, like different modes and speeds (all of which run quietly to avoid scaring your dog), and changeable heads for carrying out jobs such as intricate cleaning or stain removal.
Some people simply don’t have the time to brush their dog’s teeth every day. If this sounds like you, you may be suited to a cleaning method that allows your dog to take care of their own dental hygiene. This is where dental chews are incredibly handy. They require very little direct involvement on your part – instead of their favourite bone or toy, simply give your dog a dental chew once a day.
As your dog gnaws their dental chew, the corrugated grooves and bumps remove plaque from between their teeth, preventing gum disease and freshening their breath. You probably won’t achieve as deep a clean as you might with a toothbrush, but their simplicity makes it incredibly easy to establish a good oral health routine.
Like dental chews, teeth-cleaning toys allow you to care for your dog’s teeth without a labour-intensive routine. They’re made from a durable, non-toxic rubber that is perfect for chewing, but it’s their shape that makes them an effective dental solution: many teeth-cleaning toys feature interesting textures and shapes, such as soft bristles and bumps, placed at varying angles.
As your dog chews, these protrusions remove plaque from hard to reach places in your dog’s mouth. As with dental chews, you won’t achieve as intricate a clean as you might with a toothbrush, but teeth-cleaning toys can make dental hygiene more enjoyable for both dog and owner.
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Next, you may want to consider some helpful extras. Toothpaste, for example, can really help to boost your dog’s oral hygiene routine. Often with flavours that are odourless to humans but extremely tasty to dogs, they are a great way of fighting plaque, preventing tartar and freshening the breath. They're also completely safe to swallow, so don’t worry if they enjoy the flavour a little too much!
Several comprehensive teeth cleaning kits are now available, often including several types of brush, toothpaste, and cleaning implements in one handy package. In one place, you’ll have everything you need to ensure that your dog’s teeth remain healthy.
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Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Tropiclean Fresh Breath Oral Care Kit | ![]() | Everything You Need in One Package | |
2 | tonyg-p 3-Sided Dog Toothbrush with Silicone Finger Toothbrush | ![]() | Triple Your Cleaning Speed | |
3 | Rucacio Toothbrush Stick Dog Chew Toy | ![]() | Make Brushing Their Favourite Time of Day | |
4 | Life Basis Electric Dog Tartar Cleaner & Tooth Polisher | ![]() | Extra Power and All the Features You’ll Need | |
5 | Beaphar Toothbrush & Toothpaste Kit | ![]() | Added Toothpaste for Extra Clean Teeth | |
6 | Whimzees Natural Daily Dental Treats | ![]() | Treats That Clean as Your Dog Chews | |
7 | Beaphar Double-Ended Toothbrush | ![]() | A Deep Clean for Teeth of All Shapes and Sizes | |
8 | Pet Dentist Bamboo Charcoal Toothbrush | ![]() | Whiten Your Dog’s Teeth as You Brush | |
9 | Youngever Ball Toys for Pet Tooth Cleaning | ![]() | Make Brushing Time Playtime With This Fun Ball | |
10 | Beaphar Finger Toothbrush | ![]() | Two Reliable Finger Toothbrushes by a Trusted Branded |
This one comes top because it combines several elements into one affordable kit. You’ll get a 360-degree multi-sided toothbrush, which makes cleaning easier, more effective and up to three times quicker; a finger toothbrush for precision; and a tube of cleaning gel with natural ingredients and infused with green tea leaf extract that can make positive changes to your dog’s teeth in less than 30 days.
The sole downside of this set is the limited reach of the toothbrush makes it unsuitable for large dogs. Otherwise, this set is our top pick because it combines several fantastic items into one winning package.
tonyg-p’s 3-sided toothbrush features everything great about a manual toothbrush – gentle brushes, ergonomic shape, and comfortable, easy-grip handle – except with, not one, but three brush heads. The benefits are profound – you’ll get a more thorough clean, as the angled brush heads work together to cover all areas of your dog’s teeth, and you’ll be able to do it in record time.
To sweeten the deal, this kit comes in three jazzy colours and also includes three finger brushes featuring silicone brushes and massage bumps. tonyg-p’s 3-sided toothbrushes give you increased cleaning power in quicker time – and who wouldn’t want that?
We love this one for how incredibly fun it makes dental care for your dog. Your dog will love chewing the assortment of grooves and teeth shaped protrusions, while these specially aligned features will clean those hard to reach areas. The best thing about this toy, however, is the reservoir in the middle that can be filled with toothpaste, allowing you to give your dog’s teeth an extra clean as they chew.
It’s available in two sizes, with the only real downside being that it’s unsuitable for small dogs under 20lbs. For those with medium and large dogs, however, its combination of fun and convenience, make this toy the perfect package.
Life Basis’s Dog Tartar Remover makes cleaning easier and more efficient – the high-speed rotation of the soft bristles ensure a deep clean without any damage to your pet's gums. You’ll also get some incredible extra features, including three brushing speeds and four different brush heads. This brush is truly unique as it doesn't just prevent tartar, but is also capable of removing it.
For those just wanting to maintain their dog’s dental health, Life Basis’s dog tartar remover may seem a little excessive, but for those wanting nothing less than perfect teeth for their dog, this is the one to go for.
This kit is so great because it combines a highly effective toothbrush with a toothpaste that grants a whole host of important dental benefits. It's liver flavoured (and thankfully, odourless!), so your dog will go crazy for it.
Plus, it’s packed full of ingredients that freshen breath and prevent tartar. As with all brushes, you’ll need to replace both brush and paste periodically, but this kit is highly affordable and offers a killer combination for keeping your dog’s teeth in great shape.
If you’re looking for an effective method of keeping your dog’s teeth clean that is also highly convenient, then Whimzees’ dental treats are for you. Each cutely-shaped chew is lined with bumps and grooves designed to reach those tight spaces in your dog’s mouth.
Simply give them a chew once a day in place of their favourite bone or toy to establish a healthy dental routine. You won’t achieve a deep clean with dental chews alone, but Whimzees Dental Treats are a teeth cleaning option that both you and your dog will love.
Dog teeth vary in size, and you may find yourself struggling to clean certain areas with just one brush. With Beaphar’s double-ended toothbrush, you get two brush heads in one, meaning you can alternate between sizes as you move around your dog’s mouth. If you have several dogs, the brushes can also be alternated between sizes and breeds.
In addition to this, you’ll get a brush that is ergonomically shaped with a rubber handle that’ll prevent you from losing your grip. There are no fancy extra features here, but this is a solid, highly affordable brush that can make life as a dog owner that much easier.
With Petdentist’s Bamboo Charcoal Toothbrush, you’ll get all the benefits of a great manual toothbrush – an ergonomic design and rubber grip that fits perfectly – but with one unique additional feature: charcoal-infused bristles that absorb stains and whitens your dog’s teeth as you brush, as well as neutralising microorganisms to clean and deodorize the brush’s bristles in between brushes.
These ultra-soft bamboo bristles protect your dog’s gums, and the extra small brush head allows easier access to different areas of your dog’s mouth. You’re likely to find the 19cm reach insufficient for a large dog, but awkwardly, this brush is also too big for really small dogs. Those with dogs somewhere in the middle, however, will find this brush highly effective.
If you’re looking for the most convenient way of keeping your dog’s teeth clean, you’ll want to consider this chewable ball toy. Its grooves and soft spikes encourage your dog to explore the interesting textures of this ball and ensure that their teeth are cleaned as they do.
You can even up the fun factor further by using the ball in a game of fetch or inserting treats into the small gaps. Although you won’t get as deep a clean as you might with a manual toothbrush, this dog toy is an affordable and easy way of ensuring your dog’s teeth are cared for.
For a no-frills, affordable method of keeping your dog’s teeth clean, you could do far worse than Beaphar’s finger toothbrushes. Their soft silicone material means these brushes are durable but kind to your dog’s gums, and their bristles are designed to move in different directions as you brush to remove plaque from even the hardest to reach areas.
Using finger brushes can be quite an involved process but, especially when you consider they can last 6 months or more, they’re a highly affordable option that is guaranteed to get the job done.
No. 1: Tropiclean|Fresh Breath Oral Care Kit
No. 2: tonyg-p|3-Sided Dog Toothbrush with Silicone Finger Toothbrush
No. 3: Rucacio|Toothbrush Stick Dog Chew Toy
No. 4: Life Basis|Electric Dog Tartar Cleaner & Tooth Polisher
No. 5: Beaphar|Toothbrush & Toothpaste Kit
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