Best Dog Toothpastes for Shih Tzus (2026): 5 Picks for Small, Crowded Mouths
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A Shih Tzu packs 42 adult teeth into one of the smallest jaws in the dog world. That crowding is the breed’s defining dental problem: teeth sit tightly together and slightly rotated, plaque traps itself in the gaps, and tartar builds up far faster than it does in a long-muzzled dog. Add a sweet, cooperative temperament that hides discomfort well, and it’s easy to see why dental disease is one of the most common health issues vets find in this breed.
That is exactly why so many owners search for the best dog toothpastes for Shih Tzus. Daily brushing is the single most effective thing you can do at home to slow plaque down — but only if the paste tastes good enough that your dog cooperates, the flavour suits a small and sometimes fussy eater, and the brush or finger brush actually fits a tiny mouth.
We compared the leading Amazon options on acceptance (flavour matters more than marketing), enzyme systems, VOHC recognition, brush and finger-brush fit for small mouths, and brand track record — and narrowed it down to these five.
Quick Picks: Top 5 at a Glance
| Product | Best for | Form/Size | Check it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virbac C.E.T. Enzymatic Toothpaste (Poultry) | Best overall | Paste, 2.5 oz tube | Check Price on Amazon |
| Petsmile Professional Pet Toothpaste (London Broil) | Best evidence-backed formula | Paste, 2.5 oz tube | Check Price on Amazon |
| Vet’s Best Complete Enzymatic Dental Care Kit | Best starter kit with finger brush | Gel 3.5 oz + brushes | Check Price on Amazon |
| Arm & Hammer Complete Care Dog Dental Kit (Chicken) | Best budget kit | Paste 2.5 oz + brushes | Check Price on Amazon |
| TropiClean Fresh Breath Clean Teeth Gel (Original) | Best no-brush option | Gel, 2 oz bottle | Check Price on Amazon |
What to Look for in a Toothpaste for a Shih Tzu
- A flavour your dog genuinely likes: Brushing only works if it happens daily. Poultry, beef and chicken flavours tend to win with small dogs; mint flavours divide opinion. If your Shih Tzu turns away from one flavour, try another before giving up on brushing altogether.
- Enzymatic action: Enzymatic pastes use systems such as glucose oxidase and lactoperoxidase to keep working against plaque bacteria after you’ve finished brushing — helpful when a session in a tiny mouth only lasts 30 seconds.
- Safe to swallow, no rinsing: Dogs can’t spit. A proper pet toothpaste has no foaming agents and is designed to be swallowed. Never use human toothpaste — many contain xylitol (also labelled birch sugar), which is highly toxic to dogs, and fluoride levels meant for spitting out, not swallowing.
- A brush that fits: A full-size dog brush is clumsy in a Shih Tzu’s mouth. A finger brush or a small, soft dual-ended brush gives you far better control around crowded back molars, where tartar builds fastest.
- Recognised quality signals: The VOHC (Veterinary Oral Health Council) Accepted seal means a product has met standards in controlled trials for plaque or tartar reduction. Vet-formulated brands with long track records are the next-best signal.
1. Virbac C.E.T. Enzymatic Toothpaste, Poultry — Best Overall
If we had to hand most Shih Tzu owners one tube, it would be this one. Virbac’s C.E.T. line has led at-home pet dental care for over 30 years, and the poultry flavour is the one small dogs most reliably accept — many will lick it straight from the tube, which makes building a daily routine dramatically easier.
The formula uses the C.E.T. Dual Enzyme System, which works with your dog’s own saliva to inhibit plaque formation. It contains no foaming agents, so it’s safe to swallow with no rinsing, and it includes gentle abrasives to help lift plaque as you brush. Virbac describes C.E.T. as the dental brand most recommended by veterinary professionals, and the toothpaste is made in the USA. For a Shih Tzu, pair it with a small soft brush or finger brush and work the outer surfaces of the back upper molars — that’s where this breed’s tartar collects first.
Pros: Excellent acceptance in small dogs; proven dual-enzyme system; safe to swallow; five flavours to rotate through if poultry loses its appeal.
Cons: Sold as a tube only — you’ll need to buy a small brush or finger brush separately; poultry flavour won’t suit dogs on a strict poultry-free diet.
Best for: Most Shih Tzus — the reliable, vet-trusted everyday default.
2. Petsmile Professional Pet Toothpaste, London Broil — Best Evidence-Backed Formula
Petsmile holds a distinction no other toothpaste on this list can claim: it is the only toothpaste accepted by the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) for plaque and tartar control, based on its proprietary Calprox formula, which is clinically proven to inhibit plaque and tartar build-up. If you want the pick with the strongest evidence behind it, this is it.
The ingredients are human-grade, the formula is free of xylitol and harsh abrasives, and — unusually — brushing is helpful but not strictly required: you can apply it with a brush, a finger, or even let your dog lick it from a treat and spread it with their tongue, which is a gentle on-ramp for a Shih Tzu who has never had a brush near their mouth. Pets can eat and drink straight afterwards. The London Broil flavour is savoury and generally well accepted by small dogs.
Pros: Only VOHC-accepted toothpaste; clinically proven Calprox formula; works even without brushing; human-grade ingredients.
Cons: Premium positioning — it costs more per tube than the other picks; the 2.5 oz tube feels small if you’re used to value sizes.
Best for: Owners who want the strongest evidence base, and brush-shy dogs who need a no-brush starting point.
3. Vet’s Best Complete Enzymatic Dental Care Kit — Best Starter Kit with Finger Brush
Starting from zero with a Shih Tzu? This kit removes the guesswork. It pairs Vet’s Best’s veterinarian-formulated enzymatic dental gel (3.5 oz) with a triple-headed toothbrush — three bristle heads angled to wrap around each tooth — and, most usefully for a small breed, a finger brush that gives you fingertip control inside a tiny mouth.
The gel itself is built on natural ingredients including aloe, neem oil, grapefruit seed extract and baking soda alongside its enzyme system, and it’s designed to gently clean teeth, support healthy gums and freshen breath without harsh chemicals or foaming agents. The brand suggests applying with a brush or rubbing on with a finger two to three times per week as a minimum — though for a tartar-prone Shih Tzu, we’d still aim for daily.
Pros: Everything in one box, including the finger brush small mouths need; natural-ingredient gel; triple-head brush speeds up sessions; vet-formulated.
Cons: The triple-headed brush may still feel bulky for the very smallest Shih Tzus — start with the finger brush; gel flavour is milder than the meat-flavoured pastes, so picky dogs may prefer Virbac.
Best for: First-time brushers who want a complete kit and a finger-brush route into the routine.
4. Arm & Hammer Complete Care Dog Dental Kit, Chicken — Best Budget Kit
Arm & Hammer brings its baking-soda know-how to a kit that covers the whole routine: a 2.5 oz chicken-flavour enzymatic toothpaste, a dual-headed toothbrush (use the small head for a Shih Tzu), and a finger brush for beginners. It’s the most affordable way on this list to get paste and both brush styles in one purchase.
The formula leans on baking soda to gently clean and naturally deodorise, with added calcium to support enamel and enzymes for tartar control. It’s fluoride-free and non-toxic, with no dyes. The brand’s own starter advice is worth following with a small breed: begin by letting your dog lick a little paste from your finger, progress to rubbing along the gumline, and only then introduce the brush — always keeping it positive.
Pros: Paste, dual-head brush and finger brush in one keenly priced kit; baking soda deodorises well; chicken flavour; clear beginner instructions.
Cons: The larger brush head is too big for a Shih Tzu — you’ll live on the small head and finger brush; baking-soda formulas can be slightly gritty compared with smooth gels.
Best for: Budget-conscious owners who want a complete kit without buying pieces separately.
5. TropiClean Fresh Breath Clean Teeth Gel, Original — Best No-Brush Option
Some Shih Tzus simply will not accept a brush, and a battle helps nobody. TropiClean’s Clean Teeth Gel is designed for exactly that dog: you apply two drops to each side of the mouth, and your dog’s own licking spreads the gel across teeth and gums. The brand recommends withholding food and water for 30 minutes before and after for maximum effect, and applying once daily, ideally in the evening.
It’s made in the USA and has been a fixture of the no-brush category for years. Honest expectation-setting matters here: a no-brush gel helps with breath and slows plaque, but it can’t match the mechanical action of brushing — if your dog later warms to a finger brush, using the gel with one speeds up plaque and tartar removal. Think of it as the best available plan B, not an equal substitute.
Pros: No brushing required — ideal for resistant dogs; simple two-drop application; long-established formula; gel format suits daily use.
Cons: Less effective than actual brushing; the 30-minute no-food-or-water window takes a little planning; small 2 oz bottle.
Best for: Brush-refusing Shih Tzus, and as a rest-day option in an otherwise brushed routine.
Enzymatic Paste, No-Brush Gel or a Full Kit: Which Should You Choose?
Enzymatic pastes (Virbac, Petsmile) give the best results when paired with even 30 seconds of brushing, because the enzymes keep working after you stop. Kits (Vet’s Best, Arm & Hammer) are the smart buy if you own no brushes yet — and the finger brush in each is arguably the most Shih Tzu-appropriate tool in this whole guide. No-brush gels (TropiClean) trade some effectiveness for guaranteed compliance. The hierarchy is simple: a daily gel beats a weekly battle, but a daily brushed paste beats both.
Building the Routine (and Safety Notes)
- Start with flavour, not the brush: For the first few days, just let your Shih Tzu lick a pea-sized amount of paste from your finger as a treat. Then rub a little along the gumline. Only add the finger brush or small brush once they’re relaxed — most dogs accept brushing within a week or two of this build-up.
- Little and often wins: Aim for daily, even if you only manage the outer surfaces of the upper teeth. Plaque mineralises into tartar within a couple of days, so frequency matters more than marathon sessions.
- Never use human toothpaste: Xylitol (birch sugar) is acutely toxic to dogs, and human fluoride levels assume spitting. Children’s toothpaste is not a safe workaround — it has the same problems.
- Home brushing has limits: Once tartar has hardened — especially below the gumline — no toothpaste removes it. That needs a professional scale and polish under anaesthesia.
- See your vet promptly if you notice: bleeding or receding gums, loose or discoloured teeth, dropping food, pawing at the mouth, facial swelling, or breath that suddenly becomes much worse. Small breeds can also keep retained baby teeth alongside adult ones, which worsens crowding — worth asking your vet to check at the next visit.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I brush my Shih Tzu’s teeth?
Daily is the goal, because plaque hardens into tartar within 24–48 hours. If daily isn’t realistic yet, three to four times a week still helps — but build up gradually rather than abandoning the routine.
Can I use my own toothpaste on my Shih Tzu?
No. Human toothpaste often contains xylitol, which is highly toxic to dogs, and fluoride in amounts meant to be spat out. Always use a toothpaste formulated for pets — every pick on this list is safe to swallow.
My Shih Tzu hates the brush. What actually works?
Start with flavour alone from your finger, move to a finger brush (the Vet’s Best and Arm & Hammer kits both include one), and keep sessions under a minute followed by praise. If brushing still fails, a no-brush option like Petsmile applied by tongue or TropiClean’s gel is far better than nothing.
Does toothpaste remove tartar that’s already there?
No. Toothpaste and brushing prevent new plaque from hardening, but existing tartar — especially under the gumline — needs a professional dental under anaesthesia. Ask your vet to grade your dog’s teeth at their annual check.
Why do Shih Tzus get dental disease so easily?
They fit a full set of 42 adult teeth into a short, small jaw, so teeth crowd and overlap, trapping plaque in places a brush barely reaches. That anatomy is exactly why a daily routine matters more for this breed than for most.
Our Verdict
For most Shih Tzus, start with Virbac C.E.T. Enzymatic Toothpaste in Poultry — the flavour small dogs accept best, a proven enzyme system, and decades of vet trust. Choose Petsmile if you want the only VOHC-accepted formula, the Vet’s Best kit if you’re starting from scratch and want a finger brush in the box, the Arm & Hammer kit for the best-value complete set, and TropiClean’s gel if your dog simply refuses a brush. Whichever you pick, the routine is the product: a little paste, every day, beats the perfect tube used twice a month.
→ See Virbac C.E.T. Enzymatic Toothpaste on Amazon
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