Yes, gel cleaners like Tropiclean can be a convenient alternative to brushing for cats, helping to reduce plaque and freshen breath. However, brushing is generally more effective for thorough dental care, so using both methods together may provide the best results.

Great question, Jesus! We’ve covered some of the VOHC-approved treats here: https://cats.com/best-dental-cat-treats and one of the prescription dental diets here: https://cats.com/best-foods-for-cats-with-dental-disease. I’m not familiar with the Healthymouth gels and water additives, though, so I’ll see if we can schedule a review!

Hi George, thanks for the comment, and nice work reading up on this. Frankly, I’m not a vet or veterinary nutritionist, and I can’t give definitive answers on all of this. But I will say that while some of these can be harmful in certain quantities or under certain circumstances, I haven’t seen enough evidence to think that the amounts used in common toothpaste products for cats will be harmful. Dicalcium phosphate is one I’ve recently had to address with a veterinarian working on staff at a pet food company, and they say that “dicalcium phosphate supplies calcium and phosphorus, 2 essential minerals, to the food. Extremely high levels of calcium in the blood can lead to calcification of tissues and renal disease, this is seen with vitamin D toxicity because of the mechanisms within the body. Added at an appropriate level to make sure the calcium and phosphorus meet the AAFCO minimum required nutrient levels without exceeding the maximum levels is not going to lead to health issues in an otherwise healthy pet.” They add that “If you google pretty much any mineral ingredient that is used in pet food, you will find warnings because the information is not specific to proper inclusion levels.” Regarding those enzymes, cats produce their own lactoperoxidase, just like humans and other animals do, so that’s promising, but glucose oxidase does remain a mystery. However, the products including these ingredients do appear to have been tested and found both effective and safe, so I wouldn’t be too concerned. Poultry digest should be safe, yes—it’s a product made from hydrolyzed poultry tissue. The proteins are broken down and concentrated for intense flavor.

Hi Jenn, Petsmile toothpaste doesn’t contain sorbitol: https://www.amazon.com/Petsmile-Professional-Toothpaste-Human-Grade-Ingredients/dp/B0988DB9PP/?tag=wwwallabou001-20

Sorbitol gives my 8 month old kitten diarrhea any time I use these to brush her teeth. Even if I take a break and then only use it one night, she will have loose stools the next day. Any recommendations for good toothpastes without Sorbitol?

Hi Eric, thanks for commenting! I know we went over this by email, but Petsmile is a good option that doesn’t contain sorbitol and which seems to be one of the best-performing options on the market. All the best!

I would like to know options for cat toothpastes that do not contain sorbitol