Bio PetActive Biodent is an enzymatic toothpaste for cats and dogs, developed by vets. It's non-foaming and safe to swallow — no rinsing, no spitting — so it works with an animal that has no idea what a toothbrush is for.

Why "enzymatic," and why it matters

A human toothpaste relies on you scrubbing thoroughly and then spitting. A pet does neither — which is why pet toothpaste has to do more of the work chemically. Biodent's enzyme system is built for exactly that. It contains glucose oxidase, an enzyme that produces a small, controlled amount of hydrogen peroxide right there in the mouth, which reduces the microorganisms responsible for forming tartar. The cleaning continues after you've stopped brushing, so a quick, imperfect brush still counts.

It also includes zinc, which neutralises the volatile sulphur compounds that are the actual source of "dog breath" — tackling the smell at its cause rather than covering it. And because there are no foaming agents, nothing has to be rinsed away; the paste is made to be swallowed safely.

• ✓Enzyme system against tartar. Glucose oxidase keeps working on tartar-forming microbes after brushing.
• ✓Tackles breath at the source. Zinc neutralises the sulphur compounds behind bad breath.
• ✓Non-foaming, swallow-safe. No rinsing or spitting required — made for daily use.
• ✓Palatable flavour. A taste pets accept, which is half the battle in getting teeth brushed at all.

Why bother brushing a pet's teeth

Dental disease is one of the most common health problems in cats and dogs, and one of the most preventable. Plaque hardens into tartar within days, tartar inflames the gums, and untreated gum disease doesn't just cost teeth — the bacteria involved can affect the heart, liver and kidneys over time. A professional scale-and-polish under anaesthetic is the treatment once it's advanced; daily brushing is how you avoid getting there. This is the cheap, boring habit that prevents the expensive vet visit.

Getting a pet used to it