Dog and Cat Dental Care (2026): Toothbrushes, Enzymatic Paste and the VOHC Seal

The best thing you can do for your dog's or cat's teeth at home is brush them, ideally every day, with a soft pet toothbrush and a pet toothpaste such as Virbac C.E.T. enzymatic paste. Never use your own toothpaste. For extra plaque or tartar control, choose chews and pastes from the Veterinary Oral Health Council's accepted list, which is short and checkable. This page gathers what the AVMA, the FDA, Cornell and Tufts say about home dental care, and shows which products on Amazon are actually on the VOHC list.

How we chose: we did not test these products; we checked each one against the VOHC accepted products list on September 28, 2026, and kept only items sold by Amazon.com or the brand's own store.

Why brushing comes first

Dental disease starts early. The AVMA's pet dental care page says that "by the time your pet is 3 years old, he or she will very likely have some early evidence of periodontal disease." For cats, Cornell's Feline Health Center says in its feline dental disease overview that "between 50 and 90% of cats older than four years of age suffer from some form of dental disease."

The AVMA is clear about what helps most: "Regularly brushing your pet's teeth is the single most effective thing you can do to keep their teeth healthy between dental cleanings." On frequency: "Daily brushing is best, but it's not always possible and brushing several times a week can be effective." Cornell goes further for cats: "Daily toothbrushing can prevent most forms of dental disease."

Chews, water additives and gels help, but the VOHC itself puts brushing at the top of home care: its home page says "excellent oral health is maintained by daily oral hygiene," with brushing as the benchmark.

Pet dental products and the VOHC seal

Prices are Amazon's, as of the time shown, and subject to change. Details

What the VOHC seal means, and what it does not

The Veterinary Oral Health Council reviews evidence; it does not run the trials. Its home page says: "The VOHC does not test products itself." Makers submit data, and a seal is awarded for plaque, for calculus (tartar), or for both. The VOHC says "regular use of products awarded the VOHC seal of acceptance will reduce the severity of periodontal disease in pets."

The accepted products list is the thing to check, and it holds a few surprises:

• Toothpaste is rare on it. For dogs, the list names Petsmile Professional Pet Toothpaste (plaque), Tartar Shield PRO CARE Natural Pet Toothpaste (tartar) and Dentalis Canine Toothpaste (plaque). For cats, the only paste on the list is part of a HealthyMouth toothpaste and brush kit.
• Virbac's famous C.E.T. enzymatic toothpaste is not on the list. Virbac's VOHC-listed products are its C.E.T. Veggiedent chews (Fr3sh, Zen and Flex) and its C.E.T. Aquadent Fr3sh water additive.
• A plain toothbrush is on it. The list includes an "ADA-compliant soft-bristle, flat head toothbrush" from various makers, for plaque and tartar.
• Seals are claim-specific. Canine Greenies carry the seal for plaque and tartar; OraVet chews for tartar only; Feline Greenies for tartar.

So "VOHC accepted" on a package should match a name on that list. Petsmile's Amazon listing, for example, says its paste is chosen "to control plaque and tartar" and is for cats and dogs; the VOHC list we loaded shows Petsmile Professional Pet Toothpaste in the dog section, for plaque.

Never human toothpaste

The FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine is blunt in its xylitol warning: "Only use pet toothpaste for pets, never human toothpaste." The same page tells owners to keep products containing xylitol, "including those you don't think of as food, such as toothpaste," well out of a dog's reach.

The reason is how dogs react to xylitol. The FDA says it "may result in a potent release of insulin from the pancreas," and that signs of poisoning include "vomiting, followed by symptoms associated with the sudden lowering of your dog's blood sugar, such as decreased activity, weakness, staggering, incoordination, collapse and seizures." Those effects can start within 10 to 60 minutes.

Cats are covered too. Cornell says "human toothpaste is not safe for cats" and to "use only tooth gel or toothpaste designed specifically for cats." Tufts' Cummings School, in its pet dental myths piece, says to use a flavored pet toothpaste and "never use human toothpaste."

Pet toothpastes are made to be swallowed. Virbac's listing for C.E.T. paste says it has no foaming agents, "so this toothpaste is safe for pets to swallow."

Key point: if your dog eats a tube of human toothpaste or anything else with xylitol, call your vet or an animal poison control line right away. The FDA says serious effects can take 12 to 24 hours to appear in some cases.

How to brush a dog's or cat's teeth

Cornell's four-week plan for cats is the gentlest way to start, and it works for a nervous dog too:

1. Week 1: "Let your cat become familiar with the smell of the toothpaste."
2. Week 2: "Get your cat used to the taste of the toothpaste."
3. Week 3: "Get your cat used to the toothbrush."
4. Week 4: "Gently stretch your cat's lips far enough to insert the brush gently between the lips and gums."

Then brush: "Place the bristles at a 45 degree angle to the teeth, aiming for the narrow crevice between teeth and gums," per Cornell.

Which brush. A finger brush (in the C.E.T. dog kit) is an easy start for a dog that dislikes a handle near its face. The kit's long, reverse-angled brush reaches back teeth once your dog accepts it. For cats, the C.E.T. cat brush has, per Virbac's listing, "long, soft bristles shaped into a pointed tuft" to reach the back teeth in a small mouth. A soft, flat-headed toothbrush also counts: that is the brush on the VOHC list.

Dental chews: size, supervision and the seal

Some chews help, and the VOHC list tells you which. The AVMA adds a caution: "Not all of them are effective. Talk with your veterinarian about any dental products, treats, or dental-specific diets you're considering." For cats, our wet vs dry cat food guide covers what dry food does and doesn't do for teeth, and which cat dental diets carry the VOHC seal.

Size matters for safety as well as results. The VOHC says to "ensure that the right-sized product for the body weight of the dog is given" and to limit treats "to times when the owner is available to observe the dog chewing the treat." Greenies' listings size by weight: Teenie for 5 to 15 lb, Petite for 15 to 25 lb, Regular for 25 to 50 lb and Large for 50 to 100 lb. OraVet's small chew is for 10 to 24 lb and C.E.T. Veggiedent's medium for 22 to 66 lb, per their listings.

An edible dental chew is not a chew toy. For a dog that gulps or destroys everything, see our guide to safe chew toys for aggressive chewers, including the thumbnail test veterinary dentists use for hardness.

Signs to call your vet, and why anesthesia matters

The AVMA lists signs of dental trouble: "Bad breath, Broken or loose teeth, Extra teeth or retained baby teeth, Teeth that are discolored or covered in tartar." Cornell adds that cats with dental pain "may be hesitant to eat, may turn their heads unusually while eating, may stop eating, drool, or develop bad breath."

Brushing prevents buildup; it does not remove hardened tartar under the gums. That needs a professional cleaning, and the AVMA notes that "the American Veterinary Dental College does not recommend dental cleanings without anesthesia because they do not allow cleaning or inspection below the gumline." Tufts calls anesthesia "very safe" and says it lets "every tooth" be examined thoroughly.

If you see any of those signs, ask your vet before starting a new product. This page is general information, not veterinary advice (more on that).

Recalls: we found no FDA or CPSC recall of Greenies, OraVet, Virbac C.E.T. or Petsmile products on our pet recall list. Mars Petcare, which makes Greenies, had FDA-listed recalls of Pedigree dog foods in 2024 and 2026; those are foods, not dental treats.

For a new pet, add a toothbrush and pet paste to the new puppy checklist or new kitten checklist: the earlier brushing starts, the easier it is.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use human toothpaste on my dog or cat?

No. The FDA says to use only pet toothpaste for pets, never human toothpaste, and warns that toothpaste can contain xylitol, which is dangerous to dogs. Cornell says human toothpaste is not safe for cats.

How often should I brush my pet's teeth?

Daily if you can. The AVMA says daily brushing is best, but brushing several times a week can be effective.

Is Virbac C.E.T. toothpaste VOHC approved?

Not on the VOHC accepted list we checked on September 28, 2026. Virbac's listed products are its C.E.T. Veggiedent chews and C.E.T. Aquadent Fr3sh water additive; the C.E.T. enzymatic toothpaste is sold for plaque control on its own claims.

Do dental chews replace brushing?

No. The VOHC calls daily oral hygiene the way to maintain oral health, with brushing as the benchmark; VOHC-accepted chews add plaque or tartar control on top, and the AVMA says to talk with your vet about which to use.

Are anesthesia-free dental cleanings a good idea?

The AVMA says the American Veterinary Dental College does not recommend them, because they do not allow cleaning or inspection below the gumline.

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PetProofLab is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. We did not test these products; VOHC status is from the VOHC's own accepted products list, and features are the makers' own.