Dog Toothpaste Ingredients

You may be tempted to squeeze some of your own toothpaste on your dog’s brush to brush its teeth, but because your dog cannot spit or wouldn’t know what you meant if you told it to spit, it needs toothpaste that won’t be harmful to swallow. Toothpastes designed specifically for canines contain ingredients designed especially for a dog’s digestive system.

  1. Sodium Bicarbonate

    • One of the main ingredients in dog toothpaste is sodium bicarbonate. According to the ingredient page on the Sci-Toys website, sodium bicarbonate is also known more widely as baking soda. In dog toothpaste, it serves as an agent to regulate the paste’s acidity and alkalinity. It's also a mild abrasive and odor absorber to aid in cleaning. According to the Baking Soda Toothpaste website, sodium bicarbonate or baking soda is included in toothpaste in general because it dissolves easily, neutralizes acid, is harmless to swallow and removes stains and debris found in crevices and cavities without damaging teeth.

    Sorbitol

    • Another common main ingredient in dog toothpaste is sorbitol. Sorbitol has a sweet taste but, unlike sugar, it does not absorb easily, so it doesn’t raise insulin levels when ingested as much as sugar does. It also aids in cleaning dogs’ teeth by not contributing to cavity development. The Great Vista Chemicals website states that sorbitol gives toothpaste a smoother texture and combines well with the paste’s other ingredients.

    Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate

    • This ingredient is an emulsifier assisting in maintaining dog toothpaste texture. It is also used to control tartar, and it removes magnesium and calcium from the saliva so it will not be deposited back onto the dog’s teeth. The Sci-Toys website also characterizes tetrasodium pyrophosphate as a “buffer, emulsifier and detergent aid.”

    Carrageenan

    • Carrageenan is an extract made from seaweed; it aids in maintaining your dog’s toothpaste texture as a thickener, keeping it on the brush until you get it in your dog’s mouth.

    Potassium Sorbate

    • Potassium sorbate inhibits mold, yeast and fungi growth in dog toothpaste, allowing it to be stored for longer periods of time.

    Glycerin

    • Glycerin is included in dog toothpaste because of its sweet taste. It also keeps the toothpaste from freezing and from drying out, which is helpful if you inadvertently leave the cap off of the paste.

    Propylparaben

    • According to the Cosmetics Database website, propylparaben is a preservative.

    Other Ingredients

    • Water is a major ingredient in dog toothpaste. It also contains artificial and natural flavoring to assist your dog into letting you put the toothpaste in his mouth.